In 2005 he entered the prestigious Radio France International Decouverte Musiques du Monde Competition held in Dakar, Senegal, and competed against some of the leading artists in contemporary African music. Needless to say, he returned home to Cape Verde with first prize and, finally, national and regional stardom. It was, however, the critically acclaimed Nu Monda (2005) that shot him into the stratosphere of world music, and started tongues wagging at home and abroad about him being the true ‘vanguard’ of Cape Verdean music.
Mwaka 2005 aliingia katika mashindano yenye sifa kubwa ya Radio France International Decouverte Musiques du Monde Competition yaliyofanyika Dakar, Senegal na kushindana na baadhi ya wasanii wanaoongoza katika Muziki wa kisasa wa Kiafrika. Kama ada, alirudi nyumbani Cape Verde na zawadi ya kwanza na mwishowe umaarufu wa kitaifa na wamataifa mengine. Ilikua hata hivyo albamu yake ya Nu Monda (2005) iliyopata sifa nyingi ambayo ilimrusha anga ya juu katika muziki wa dunia na kuacha ndimi zikitikisika nyumbani pamoja na ughaibuni kuhusu yeye kua kiongozi katika muziki wa Cape Verde.