Dino D’Santiago Wins Latin Grammy for Luso-Brazilian Album
Portuguese musician Dino D’Santiago reached a career milestone in Las Vegas on Thursday, securing a Latin Grammy for a cross-continental collaboration that celebrates the deep cultural ties of the Lusophone world.
A Triumph for Afro-Luso-Brazilian Rhythms
D’Santiago shared the honor with acclaimed Brazilian artists Criolo and Amaro Freitas for their self-titled debut album, Criolo, Amaro & Dino. The project took home the award for Best Portuguese-Language Roots Album / Afro-Portuguese-Brazilian Music, a category that highlights the rich traditional and contemporary sounds connecting Portugal and Brazil with Africa.
The album represents a fusion of genres and geographies, blending D’Santiago’s Cape Verdean-influenced contemporary soul with Criolo’s poignant rap and samba, and Amaro Freitas’s avant-garde jazz piano.
A Tribute to the Lusophone Spirit
During a heartfelt acceptance speech, D’Santiago dedicated the win to the diverse nations that share the Portuguese language, emphasizing the unifying power of their collective heritage.
“Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Portugal—thank you to this Portuguese language for making us a unique people,” the musician told the audience.
The win marks a significant moment for Portuguese music on the international stage, highlighting the growing global recognition for Afro-diasporic sounds emerging from the Lusophone community.
Image: Pexels – Federico Abis
