article_snippet.sent: (CNN)There's an old saying which states the Cape Verde Islands are home to a greater number of musicians per square kilometer than any other country in the world.
article_snippet.sent: But there is a certain factual accuracy behind the legend: the important and proud relationship the Atlantic island country of just 500,000 people has with music.
article_snippet.sent: From this diverse melting pot were born the unique sounds of the batuque, morna, funana and other distinct musical styles.
article_snippet.sent: Besides fish, it is pretty common (for Cape Verde to say 'our biggest richness is in music and culture,'" said Christine Semba of Womex, an international networking platform for the world music genre.
article_snippet.sent: The economic potential of music has been also acknowledged  by Cape Verde prime minister, Jose Maria Neves, while the country's ministry of culture is run by Mario Lucio de Sousa, himself a popular musician.
article_snippet.sent: Artists including Grammy-winning U.S. singer Esperanza Spalding have been invited to perform, as have acts from the likes of Luxembourg, Brazil and, of course, Cape Verde.
article_snippet.sent: We breathe the music in Cape Verde, We live with the music in Cape Verde," he added.
article_snippet.sent: Enter the Atlantic Music Expo, a three-year-old conference and networking event that seeks to help Cape Verdean artists secure international exposure.
article_snippet.sent: We try to invite lots of producers and a lot of journalists from around the world to see the festival and the musicians from Cape Verde," said Da Silva.
article_snippet.sent: Da Silva is one of the driving forces behind This year's AME as well as being the founder of the Lusafrica and Harmonia record labels that aim to discover a new generation of artists from Cape Verde.
article_snippet.sent: Da Silva hopes that by exposing musicians to a range of experienced industry professionals and top-level musicians, musicians will become equipped with the tools and ambition to take the music of Cape Verde across the globe.
article_snippet.sent: Getting Cape Verde's name out on the world stage through recognition of Cape Verde's name rich musical culture is therefore increasingly important.
article_snippet.sent: It must be noted, however, that few countries have the same natural resources for music as Cape Verde.