Rufino Almeida, a.k.a. Bau (b. 1962) is a native of Sao Vicente, one of the many islands of the Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) archipelago. Bau's father made stringed instruments in Mindelo and, for Bau's seventh birthday, gave him his first instrument---a cavaquinho, which is a small four-stringed guitar, similar to a ukulele, used in Brazil and in Cape Verde to mark the beat. Bau's father taught him how to make guitars, cavaquinhos, violins, and also how to play them. Bau continues to master his musical skills, combining instrumental virtuosity with a self-taught and instinctive sensitivity.

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