• On Wednesday, 15 April, Portuguese artist José Cid will receive the Língua Mãe Award, presented by the Portuguese Society of Authors (SPA), in recognition of his outstanding musical career and his contribution to transforming “Ponte…nas ondas!” into a true anthem of the Lusophone world.
• José Cid’s version, released to mark the 30th anniversary of PONTE…NAS ONDAS! (PNO!), is based on the original composition “A Ponte”, written by Uxía and Sérgio Tannus.
• Reflecting on the award, José Cid said:
“This award recognises a lifetime devoted to poetry and my songs, but ‘Ponte…nas ondas!’ became the most widely heard record of my career, and that certainly played a part.”
Founded in 1925, the Portuguese Society of Authors is the organisation responsible for managing copyright in Portugal. Headquartered in Lisbon, it will host the award ceremony at 5:00 p.m. in the Maestro Frederico de Freitas Auditorium. The event will celebrate an exceptional artistic career spanning more than six decades, marked by songs that have crossed generations and enriched the musical heritage of Portugal and the wider Lusophone community.
At the age of 84, José Cid remains one of Portugal’s most celebrated musicians. Awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, he has built a unique artistic career exploring genres ranging from rock, pop and jazz to progressive music and melodic songwriting.
From the moment it was released, “Ponte…nas ondas!” was conceived as an anthem of unity among Portuguese-speaking peoples, strengthening the cultural ties that connect the Lusophone world. This symbolic significance also played an important role in the decision of the Portuguese Society of Authors to honour the song.
Drawing on the original composition “A Ponte” by Uxía and Sérgio Tannus, José Cid created a new version entitled “Ponte…nas ondas!”, released in April 2025 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of PONTE…NAS ONDAS!.
The official music video introduces the work with the following words:
“Ponte…nas ondas!”
More than a great song, it is a powerful poem by Galician artist Uxía that has grown into a Lusophone movement born in Galicia and supported by UNESCO. José Cid was the Portuguese singer invited by the composer to represent this movement throughout the global Lusophone community.
This remarkable performance is an extraordinary achievement for a young singer aged 83. It is a song that brings together peoples, cultures and nations from every corner of the world. The video is simple and authentic, highlighting both the strength of the song and the power of the performance. “Ponte…nas ondas!” — now on your radio.
Previous recipients of the Língua Mãe Award include some of Portugal’s most distinguished musicians, among them Paulo de Carvalho, Jorge Palma, Fernando Tordo, Sérgio Godinho and Tozé Brito.
The ceremony will also be attended by representatives of PONTE…NAS ONDAS!, together with Uxía, composer of the original song “A Ponte”. Their presence will further acknowledge PONTE…NAS ONDAS! as an internationally recognised initiative for safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, following its inscription by UNESCO as a Good Safeguarding Practice.
