As Portuguese democracy turns 50, Goan trio heads to Macau

PANAJI: Three Goan musicians are headed to Macau next month to perform at an event that commemorates two significant milestones in Portuguese history - the 50th anniversary of its democracy, and the 500th birth anniversary of its national poet, Luis de Camoes.
On April 26 and 27, guitarist Omar de Loiola Pereira, singer Nadia Rebelo, and multi-instrumentalist Franz Schubert Cotta will draw from a repertoire that spans across fado, mando, and other tunes in Portuguese, Konkani, and English.
The trio was picked by Fundacao Oriente's delegation in Goa. "The idea is to have a cultural exchange between Portugal and India through music, as also between East Timor and Macau, which also have Fundacao Oriente delegations. The three have been doing great work in promoting these ties for years," said Paulo Gomes of Fundacao Oriente, Goa.
Also, to celebrate the foundation's 30th anniversary in Goa, "we will try to bring artists from Macau and East Timor to Goa", said Gomes. Fundacao Oriente's delegation in Goa was set up in 1995, seven years after it was set up in Macau (1988), also a former Portuguese colony.
Portugal's transition to democracy began with the carnation revolution in April 1974. Luis de Camoes, who is believed to have been born in 1524, is famous for Os Lusiadas (The Luciads), widely regarded the greatest-ever work of Portuguese literature.
The Macau event at which the Goan trio is set to play is the first meeting of the delegation to commemorate these two anniversaries.
"We are very glad to represent Goa and India at Macau, and we have been preparing very hard to give a great performance. We are looking forward to taking what we do and showcasing it to others," said Rebelo.