He began his musical career while a government employee at the National Bank of Angola in the 1930s, a position he held until he was imprisoned in 1959.

He was forced out of the institution in 1962, after a disciplinary process claimed that he frequently did not show up for work despite having been imprisoned during that time period.

The musical group was founded at the house of Manuel dos Passos in the Bairro Operário neighborhood of Luanda.

Their style of music became popular from the 1940s to the 1960s, largely in urban areas that were sympathetic to their political and nationalist messages.

Liceu and the group have since become known as pioneers in Angolan popular music, having also sung in Kimbundu versus the colonially imposed Portuguese.

[5] By the time he had left prison in 1969, Liceu attempted to reunite the members of Ngola Ritmos again beginning in the 1970s, but encountered major difficulties due to political persecution.

In 2009, the documentary "Estórias para a História da Música Angolana", by Mário Rui Silva,[2] was released, which classifies Liceu as a legendary figure in Angolan popular music and as one of the most important artists in the country's history.