Derito

Musician & Composer
Image of the musician Derito

My Music

Semba

Africa is a continent filled with many different rich cultures and styles of music, but I gravitated to the styles that are more prominent in my birth country of Angola, such as Kilapanga, Rumba, Cumbia, Merengue, and our most well-known, Semba.

AfroJazz

AfroJazz is a fusion between the African style of music and Jazz. This was a natural progression for me even from my original style, as I began adding Jazz chords and elements to my songs. The complexity of Jazz brought another flavour to my work, and revealed new possibilities

AfroBossa

AfroBossa is a fusion between Bossa Nova and African music. Bossa Nova is a child of Samba, a Brazilian style that has its roots in Africa, roots taken to Brazil during the slave trade. I created this style with the aim of bringing those roots back to Brazilian music.

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My Journey

Who am I

My name is Helder Tavares, better known as "Derito". I am an Angolan song writer and composer who aims to expose the Angolan music past its borders and show people the quality of our roots. Its been 39 years (1985) and i hope to continue for much longer.

Early Days

I was born and raised in Benguela, Angola in August 1966. I migrated to Portugal in 1982 due to the ongoing war in Angola and was forced to adapt quickly in order to survive on my own. I eventually made a small band and started playing in bars (in 1985), alongside university. I managed to finish my course, but decided to pursue my new found passion as a full-time musician

My Career

I am the author of 4 albums between 1995 and 2016. In 2006 I was Angola's representative in the football World Cup in Germany. In 2007 I composed the Anthem for the African Basketball Championship. In 2010 I was nominated the Ambassador for the Football African Cup of Nations and I composed 2 tracks for the competition.

Whom I've Met

Where I've Been

Angola

1999Decade Festival
2014Fenacult
2016Trienal
Luanda

Brazil

2003Recording Album
Rio de Janeiro

Cape Verde

1996Praia Festival
Praia

China

2010Expo
Shanghai

United Kingdom

2008Queen Elizabeth Hall
2015Africa Oye Festival
2017Global Rhythm Festival
London

France

2002 & 2016Record Album
Paris

Germany

2006World Cup Festival
Hanover

Netherlands

1998Concert
Amsterdam

Mozambique

1997Promotional Tour
Maputo

Namibia

1997International Jazz Festival
Windhoek

Portugal

1998Expo
Lisbon

South Africa

2002Record Album
Johannesburg

Switzerland

1991Peace Festival
Geneva