Solange Cesarovna

Solange Cesarovna is an accomplished Cabo Verdean singer and songwriter who developed a lifelong passion for music at the tender age of 7. As a Humanist woman, she played a pivotal role in founding the Cabo Verdean Music Society (SCM) in 2013 – a nonprofit Collective Management Organization dedicated to protecting copyright and related rights in the music field.

Since her election as President of SCM in 2013 and subsequent re-election in 2018, Solange has spearheaded significant changes within the Cabo Verde copyright and Collective Management Organizations landscape. Notably, she led SCM to become a member of CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) in 2017 and achieved observer status in CIAM (the International Council of Music Creators) in January 2019. Furthermore, she has been serving as an African Copyright Ambassador since 2018, passionately advocating for fair remuneration and defending copyright for African creators, who contribute immensely to the continent's rich cultural and artistic heritage.

Under her leadership, SCM successfully implemented a technological Copyright Management System in Cabo Verde, leveraging WIPO CONNECT software in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This system ensures professional and transparent management of copyrights and their distribution.

Additionally, Solange has been a trailblazer in implementing fair remuneration for Cabo Verdean creators, ensuring they receive rightful compensation for the economic exploitation of their intellectual properties in the market. She pioneered the first technological copyright distributions in Cabo Verde since 2020, using the WIPO CONNECT software, enabling artists to receive their fair remuneration for the use of their musical works and recordings.

In recognition of her significant contributions, Solange received accolades in 2021. She was acknowledged as one of the 100 most influential personalities in Lusophone Africa by the Congolese website African Shapers in June. Later in December of the same year, she was elected as one of the 100 most influential Black Personalities in Lusophony by the 100 power list of the Bantumen website. These honors celebrate individuals who, through their art, craft, or associations, promote excellence in their respective areas of activity and significantly contribute to the development of different sectors in their countries.