Weekend event with a focus on Brazilian culture

The 29th Lusofonia Festival, to be held over the weekend (Oct. 23–25), will focus on Brazilian culture.

The decision reflects that this year marks the “China-Brazil Cultural Year.” The festival will feature renowned Brazilian singer Fafá de Belém as the headliner and chef Rose Ávila, who has extensive experience in Brazilian and Latin American cuisine, presenting a variety of authentic dishes.

In addition, Brazilian urban artist Fábio Panone Lopes, who specializes in murals and graffiti, will present his work on-site. His paintings even extend to everyday items, allowing the public to experience Brazilian art and culture.

The festival will also feature Cultural Exhibitors from 10 Portuguese-speaking communities in Macau, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Goa, Daman and Diu, and the Macanese community, who will share their music, crafts, customs, gastronomy, tourist information, and other aspects of their culture.

Other performances include art troupes EPO Dance from Equatorial Guinea and Timor Furak from East Timor, along with more than 40 local Portuguese-speaking artists.

For food and beverage, a temporary restaurant in the Taipa Municipal Garden will serve traditional Portuguese specialties and grilled dishes. In contrast, Largo do Carmo will offer specialties from various Portuguese-speaking communities at dinner, accompanied by light musical performances. 

A kiosk serving typical Portuguese snacks and drinks will also be set up next to the entrance to the Taipa Houses, and a “Giveaway Check-in Station” will be set up at the event venue, where participants can register and complete assigned tasks to enter a raffle for a chance to win prizes.

Interactive games will also be available on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Largo do Carmo will host traditional Portuguese games, including sack race, wooden spoon race, climbing the tallow stick, tug of war, throwing the ball, and rings on the crosspiece. Table Football and several recreational games will be held at the Taipa Houses and will be open to the public.

Concurrently, the activity “Where Culture Flourishes, Happiness Happens – Traditional Music and Dance Performances in the Community” will be held on October 24 and 25 in various districts, including Lok Kuan Building in Seac Pai Van, the Leisure Area in Lok Yeung Fa Yuen Building, and Anim’Arte Nam Van. 

The Fumei Yingge Dance Troupe of Guangdong Puning City, Mainland China, will present traditional Yingge dance, highlighting the spirit of Chinese folk culture. At the same time, the EPO Dance Troupe from Equatorial Guinea will blend traditional African rhythms with contemporary dance, showcasing the vitality and rhythm of African youth.

Meanwhile, the Timor Furak Dance Troupe from East Timor will present traditional dance and costumes, preserving and promoting their unique culture.

Both the festival and the activity are part of this year’s Arts and Cultural Festival program of China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries.