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Antero Simas Correia e Silva
June 16, 2022

Obituary

ANTERO EUCLIDES SIMAS CORREIA E SILVA, born in Praia on November 7, 1952, a Cape Verdean composer and musical performer, and Fighter for the Freedom of his Motherland, died on June 16, 2022 at 69, in New Bedford, United States of America, a victim of a prolonged ilness.

ANTERO SIMAS, public name, son of Edite Simas and Anastácio Filinto Correia e Silva, was married to Mariana Sanches Simas and had three children, namely Abdul'Hay Kaunda Antero Sanches Simas, Miriam Raisa Sanches Simas, and Doraliza Sanches Simas, he also was grandfather proud and devout, a role he embodied after raising his first granddaughter Ariel Mariana Simas.

Coming from a musical family - his grandfather António Leão Correia e Silva played the violin and his father Anastácio Filinto who, in addition to being a great collector of records and books, played the clarinet - Antero Simas distinguished himself as a musician, being the author of about 40 recorded compositions and dozens of unreleased ones. His most recognized is Doce Guerra, a true anthem about Cape Verdean Nationality.

More than that, he left musical pieces such as Destinu di Kriola, Fidju Rei di Funaná, Joana Santana, Rotxa Nu, Alma Violão, Matxamor, Nha Morna, Súplica, Amiga, Manuel Piscador, Mandela, Nha Irmon Emigranti and Maria Koxa Radondu, immortalized by performers such as Cesária Évora, Mirri Lobo, Ritinha Lobo, Magda and Sonia Évora, Betina Lopes, Nataniel Simas, Desirée Fernandes, Solange Cesarovna, Fantcha, Moisés Évora, Silvestre Fonseca, Albertino Évora and others.

He was a fighter and member of the Association of Freedom Fighters of the Motherland; ANTERO SIMAS participated in the clandestine network of the PAIGC before the Independence of Cabo Verde.

On the 25th of April 1974, he was part of the Cape Verdean nationalists who refused to swear to the Portuguese flag as a military in Morro Branco in São Vicente during the transition period 1974-1975.

His insurrection led him to a period of exile in Sal, where he later settled and built his family and professional life. Later in life, for health reasons in 2017, he left for the United States of America.

As a musician, ANTERO SIMAS received the composition prize in the 1987 edition of the Todo Mundo Canta contest and, the following year, the B. Léza Prize, which recognized the two best compositions of the first ten years of independent Cape Verde. In April 2022, he was awarded the Career Award at the I Gala of the Cabo Verdean Music Society.

He was Commander of two decorations by the Government and the Presidency of the Republic of Cape Verde.

His only record, - "Kriolo," a mixture of all his musical influences, Cape Verdean and foreign, is a testament to the enormous legacy he left us.

His visiting hours will be held on Saturday, June 25th from 12-4 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will be in Praia, Cape Verde.

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Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes
495 Park Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-994-0100