lura

Lura, born Maria de Lurdes Pina Assunção in Lisbon on July 31, 1975, is a vocalist of Cape Verdean descent. Raised in Lisbon, she initially pursued studies in sports education, specializing in swimming. Her musical career began unexpectedly at the age of seventeen when Juka, an artist from São Tomé and Príncipe, invited her to record a duet. This collaboration, originally intended for backing vocals, led to Lura featuring prominently on Juka’s album. The experience marked a turning point, revealing her vocal talent and paving the way for her professional singing career.

Following her initial success, Lura released her first album, “Nha Vida,” in 1996, which gained attention with the track “Nha Vida” being featured on the “Red Hot + Lisbon” compilation in 1997. Her talent was further recognized by Lusafrica, an independent record label, after a duet with Bonga on “Mulemba Xangola.” This led to the production of her critically acclaimed 2004 album, “Di Korpu Ku Alma,” which was a significant success in Europe and the USA, earning her nominations including one at the “BBC World Music Awards” and “Victoires de la Musique” in France for “Best World Music album” in 2006.

Throughout her career, Lura has consistently explored her Cape Verdean heritage, with albums such as “M’Bem Di Fora” (2006) and “Eclipse” (2009) showcasing her evolving artistic direction. In 2010, Lusafrica released “The Best of Lura,” a compilation album that included “Moda Bô,” a tribute song to Cesária Évora, with whom Lura notably collaborated. After a period of reflection and relocation to Praia, Cape Verde, Lura released “Herança” in 2015, an album that reaffirmed her connection to the archipelago’s musical traditions, featuring vibrant funaná beats and collaborations with artists like Naná Vasconcelos and Richard Bona.