The first session of the “GEG Traditional Music and Dance Performances in Community” was held yesterday in Iao Hon Park, aiming to showcase Macau’s rich diversity of cultural and artistic styles through the event spanning Chinese and Portuguese-speaking countries’ cultures.
As part of the 7th “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”, the event, which started yesterday, presents 14 performances in various communities and at the Galaxy Macau integrated resort in Cotai, from the mainland and eight Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) and regions, including Angola, Brazil and Cape Verde. It continues this weekend, next Thursday and next weekend.
The 7th China and PSCs cultural festival, jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and integrated resort operator Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) will continue into December, featuring over 80 programmes in seven categories, showcasing more than 780 artistes and performers.
Wizard HTF, a Guinean-Bissau singer with the band Memu Sunhu,* told reporters on the sidelines of the event that his band is visiting Macau for the first time and, consequently, has no experience of performing at the festival, adding that he adores the Portuguese culture in Macau.
About his performance, Wizard HTF said that his combined Afrobeat style and African cultural elements in the show, aim to promote Macau and Africa cultural integration, and convey the concept of “peace, love and unity” to local audiences. He also said hopes that people in Guinea-Bissau and Macau can regard each other’s place as their home.
Tan Jia, a representative of the School of Dance, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, told reporters that their show marks the team’s first experience with community-based performances, which they believe can offer residents a unique viewing experience. Given their classical Chinese style, they are especially excited to experience distinctive musical genres like rock at the carnival.
Tan noted that the group will perform the “Ladies of Lingnan” (Chinese classical dance) and “Spring Outing in the Mountains” (Han and Tang dynasty classical dance) during the festival.
*”Memu Sunhu” is a musical group from Guinea-Bissau whose name means “Same Dream” in the country’s Creole language. Formed in 2021, the group has gained significant popularity for its versatile sound that blends various modern music genres with traditional Guinean-Bissau elements. - DeepSeek
Wizard HTF, a singer of the Memu Sunhu (“Same Dream”) band from Guinea-Bissau, poses during a media group interview on the sidelines of the first session of the “GEG Traditional Music and Dance Performances in Community” event in Iao Hon Park yesterday.
Guinean-Bissau band Memu Sunhu performs in the first session of the “GEG Traditional Music and Dance Performances in Community” event in Iao Hon Park yesterday. – Photos: Ida Cheong
