Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Municipal Affairs Bureau, and supported by the Coca-Cola Beverage Co., Ltd., the 23rd Lusofonia Festival will be held from 16 to 18 October, at the Taipa Houses, introducing the lusophone culture to the public. The Festival offers a diversified programme of activities, namely a cultural showcase of each of the local lusophone communities, including music and dance performances, booths, gastronomy and games for all ages.
The first edition of the Lusofonia Festival was held in June 1998, honouring the Portuguese-speaking communities of Macao for their contribution to Macao’s development. Over the years it has become an important event to share the culture of the Portuguese-speaking communities, showcasing Macao’s role as a platform of cultural exchange between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The programme of this edition of the Festival is as diversified as in previous years. Different booths of Macao Portuguese-speaking communities from ten countries or regions, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Goa, Daman and Diu, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and the Macanese community, will be set up, introducing their countries or regions’ traditional music, images, arts and crafts, costumes, literature and gastronomy.
In each day of the Festival, local lusophone performing groups will perform different styles of music and dance on the main stage of the Festival and soft music on the stage installed in Carmo Square. In addition, a temporary restaurant serving lunch and dinner with Portuguese dishes, namely typical Portuguese grilled food and specialties from the various Portuguese-speaking countries regions will be installed. There will also be a kiosk serving typical Portuguese snacks and drinks. Furthermore, visitors of all ages can participate in traditional Portuguese games, including wooden ski run, tug of war and others which will take place at the Carmo Square during the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday. Winners will be awarded bottles of wine, codfish, canned sardines and Portuguese sausage. Table football tournaments will also be featured. Teams consisting of two participants of two different categories, 16 years and older and under 15 years old, can enrol until Saturday at 4:30pm. During the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday there will be a recreational space for children featuring diversified games and a puppet show. A radio station, "Radio Carmo", will be installed on site to broadcast Portuguese-speaking countries and regions music throughout the Festival and interview the public.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau will strictly follow the relevant epidemic prevention guidelines of the Health Bureau and make proper arrangements for art and cultural activities. Participants must wear their own face masks, will be measured their body temperature, show the personal health code of the day and cooperate with relevant epidemic prevention measures.
For more information, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo or call IC through tel. no. 8394 3721 during office hours.
