José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as Zeca Afonso or just Zeca, was born in Aveiro, Portugal. Zeca is among
themostinfluentialfolk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of
hismusicin theresistance against the dictatorial regime of Oliveira Salazar, resistance that triumphed in 1974 with the pro-democratic
leftistmilitary coupofthe Carnation Revolution. His song Grândola, Vila Morena is closely associated with the revolution. In the ensuing
revolutionaryprocess,Zecawas a very active musician and continued composing political and folk songs, often criticizing the post-revolutionary
changes. Yearsafterhisdeath, Zeca Afonso is still widely listened to,not only in Portugal, but also abroad.
