MINDELO — Ceuzany, a singer from Cape Verde, won the "Traditional Music of the Year" award at the Cape Verde Music Awards in early June. She performs as a member of the Cesaria Evora Orchestra and has released a fourth album.

Ceuzany Pires, 35, said she began her career as a child. "I started singing at age 12 in a competition in Cape Verde, and I haven't stopped since," she said. In 2022, she recorded a single with French singer Christophe Mae in Cape Verde titled "Le Pays des merveilles." She joined Mae for a 40-date tour across France in 2024.

Jose Da Silva, who previously produced for Cesaria Evora, serves as Ceuzany's producer. Evora died in 2011. "Ceuzany is one of Cesaria Evora's heirs, as she is a great morna singer," Da Silva said. Hernani Almeida arranged Ceuzany's latest album and composed several songs on it. "When Ceuzany sings, you feel soul coming through," Almeida said.

Ceuzany's fourth album includes a song titled "No tchal te li," which addresses physical and emotional abuse. Ceuzany stated she left a toxic relationship that lasted nearly five years and is a mother of two. "I believe women deserve to be treated like queens. That's the message I want to share with all women, in Cape Verde and across the world, because if I managed to leave a toxic relationship, you can do it too," she said.

Regarding her future plans, Ceuzany said, "I want to record more music, release more albums, take Cap Verde further, bringing myself along. And continue singing for my people."