Prétu

Xullaji is a rapper, musician, sound and visual poet. Born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean descent, he is best known for his political rap work as Chullage, and for composing and designing sound for visual artists and theatre.

In a recent ‘schizophonic’ outburst, Xullaji became Prétu, an afronaut on a sonic and visual journey through his ‘sampladelic’ cosmos. The speedometer of this Unidentified Sonic Object registers varying BPMs. Samples are the ignition. Acoustic and electronic polyrhythms accelerate particles and synthesizers, mixed with delays, reverbs and distortions, opening cracks between genres and creating portals that cross dimensions.  There is no gravity. If you need the ground, you can’t get on. Fragments of electronica, dub, morna, batuku or cola boi collide, and from the stardust and cosmic rain, music is born.

This performance forms part of the programme for the 2025 edition of Abril Febril.

Photographs by Mariana Silva