Teófilo Chantre (born 1964[1]) is a Cape Verdean musician,[2] first noted for his decades long collaboration with singer Cesaría Évora, and later for his own recordings.
He moved to be with his mother at age 14, but he missed his grandparents, leading to an attachment to the concept of saudade, the Portuguese word for longing and present in much Cabo Verde music.
[2][4] Chantre first became known for his work composing songs for Cape Verde singer Cesária Évora, who he met in Paris in the 1990s, after a concert both performed in.
[5][7] He has also collaborated with other artists such as Angolan singer Bonga, guitarist Bau, bass player José Paris, composer Amandio Cabral and his father, Vitorino Chantre, writing several songs with him.
[5] Chantre also wrote the lyrics for the song Ausencia, with music by Balkan composer Goran Bregovic, (sung by Evora) for the movie Underground, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.