A trio of musicians from Goa will perform in Macao next month to commemorate two milestones in Portuguese history, the Times of India reports. These are the 50th anniversary of its democracy, and the 500th anniversary of national poet Luís de Camões’ birth.
Singer Nadia Rebelo, guitarist Omar de Loiola Pereira and multi-instrumentalist Franz Schubert Cotta will play in Macao on 26 and 27 April. The venue for the performances has not yet been disclosed.
“We are looking forward to taking what we do and showcasing it to others,” said Rebelo. The group’s repertoire includes fado, mando (a folk music originating in Goa’s Catholic community), and other musical styles. Rebelo sings in Portuguese, Konkani and English.
[See more: UM acquires rare 17th-century edition of Luís de Camões’ epic poem]
The three musicians were selected by the Fundação Oriente’s delegation in Goa. “The idea is to have a cultural exchange between Portugal and India through music, and also between East Timor and Macao,” said foundation spokesman Paulo Gomes.
Gomes also said he hoped to bring musicians from Macao and East Timor to Goa next year, to celebrate the foundation’s 30th anniversary in Goa.
The Lisbon-headquartered nonprofit is focused on cultural pursuits connecting Portugal and Asia, as well as commemorating their shared history. Goa was a Portuguese colony until 1961, when it was annexed by India, while Macao was under Portuguese administration until its handover to China in 1999.
