Cape Verdean musician Carlos Alberto Pereira Lopes, known professionally as Bino Branco, has died at the age of 56 in the United States.
A family source confirmed that the founding member and lead vocalist of the band Ferro Gaita passed away on Saturday following a battle with cancer.
The singer had been living in the United States since 2025, where he was receiving treatment for an oncological condition.
State Support and Financial Hardship
In June 2026, the Government of Cape Verde granted Bino Branco an official State pension of 75,000 Cape Verdean escudos per month, equivalent to approximately 680 euros, to assist with his medical care.
An official government decree explained that the financial support was awarded in recognition of his significant contributions to national culture, as well as his deteriorating health and economic vulnerability.
Government officials noted in the decree that the musician faced a serious oncological illness that rendered him unable to pursue his professional and artistic activities, which had served as his primary source of income throughout his life.
The decree further detailed that his inability to work led to reduced financial capacity, creating severe difficulties in covering expenses related to medical treatment, daily living costs, and the well-being of his family.
Foundation of Ferro Gaita
Bino Branco co-founded the traditional musical group Ferro Gaita in 1996 alongside fellow Cape Verdean musicians.
The ensemble was established with the goal of reviving the authentic traditional sound of funaná, a fast music genre native to Cape Verde, during a period when electronic instruments were increasingly dominating the style.
Throughout his career as an interpreter, composer, and instrumentalist, Bino Branco established the ferrinho, a traditional metal scraping percussion instrument used in funaná, as one of his signature artistic trademarks.
The band released its debut studio album, Fundu Baxu, in 1997. The record achieved widespread popularity both across Cape Verde and within Cape Verdean emigrant communities living abroad.
Global Tours and Cultural Preservation
Over more than three decades in music, Bino Branco participated in numerous international concert tours with Ferro Gaita across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, bringing traditional funaná to diverse global audiences.
With Ferro Gaita, he recorded seven original albums and collaborated with several prominent Cape Verdean artists. He also released one solo project during his career.
In addition to funaná, the musician dedicated a significant portion of his artistic work to promoting and preserving traditional rhythms from the island of Santiago, including batuku and tabanka.
Before establishing Ferro Gaita, he performed as the main lead vocalist for the musical ensemble Grupo Djassy.
National Honours and Cultural Heritage
In 2007, Ferro Gaita received prestigious national recognition when they were awarded the National Medal of Cultural Merit.
The group continued its efforts to safeguard Cape Verdean traditions in 2024 by signing a formal protocol with the Ministry of Culture to support the preservation of funaná as an intangible national heritage asset.
