Thousands flock to Lusofonia festival

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Florinda Chan, presided the opening ceremony of the Lusofonia Festival on Saturday

After filling Taipa’s old neighbourhood around the Carmo Church with lights, music, food and three days of joyous gathering, the Macau 12th Lusofonia Festival closed yesterday.
Thousands among residents and foreign visitors were attracted to the multicultural mix that sprang from diverse traditions and culture of the local Portuguese and other communities from Portuguese-speaking countries presently living and working in Macau SAR, namely Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Goa, Damão and Diu, São Tomé and Principe, and East Timor.
“This is a way of thanking the contribution of the local Portuguese-speaking communities to Macau”, said Cecilia Cheung, responsible for the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) that co-organised the Festival with the Macau Government Tourist Office.
Quoted by Lusa news agency on Saturday at the opening ceremony, she explained, that “while enabling a real meeting of cultures, Macau’s cultural uniqueness and identity would also be stressed”.
Colourful and lively stands of each one of the Portuguese-speaking communities presented traditional lore, handicrafts, publications, snacks and drinks, while a make-shift restaurant also served a daily menu featuring the most popular and traditional food presented by cooks from the several communities.
Among the highlights, there were the concerts by Portuguese rock band Quinta do Bill” and Angolan “Mercado Negro”. Occasions where apparently the distance between audiences and those on stage gradually vanished, as everyone young and old danced and sang along, mostly in Portuguese and enjoyed themselves, one of the advantages of multiculturalism that Macau makes possible.
Other performances during the festival included the local groups of Goa, Damao and Diu, a Brazilian group and Tuna Macaense and the band of the Macau Portuguese School.
An art exhibition with 33 works from renowned Mozambique contemporary painters was also launched on the first day of the ‘Festa da Lusofonia’, and is still open to the public at the Taipa Houses Museum.