25th Lusofonia Festival starts this Friday (28th) A three-day celebration of Portuguese flavours
Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Municipal Affairs Bureau, the 25th Lusofonia Festival will be held from 28 to 30 October, at the Taipa Houses. This year's event will focus on Macao's Macanese culture, including Macanese Gastronomy and Handicraft Exhibitions, and will showcase the culture of each of the local Portuguese-speaking communities through their respective stands, music and dance performances, typical cuisine, games, amongst other contents with characteristics of the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The first edition of the Lusofonia Festival was held in 1998 and 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, marking its 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee). Starting this year, each edition will focus on the promotion of the characteristic culture of one of the participating Portuguese-speaking communities or regions. This year, the focus will be on Macanese culture, with emphasis on the Macanese Gastronomy and Handicraft Shows. Citizens and tourists can taste a variety of Macanese dishes, such as Pork Minchi, Cabbage Trouxas, Chicken Chau-Chau Parida amongst other famous Macanese dishes in Macau
A three-day event, featured ten countries or regions of Macao Portuguese-speaking communities, 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, arts and crafts, costumes, typical drinks, tourist information, amongst others.
In the Festival, the Shenzhen An Zhishun Percussion Art Troupe and around 30 local Portuguese-speaking performing groups will bring to the main stage of the Amphitheatre of Taipa Houses percussion performances, typical songs and dances and also light music on the stage installed in Largo do Carmo, providing a Portuguese touch to the atmosphere. The Festival offers a range of traditional Portuguese games for all age groups in Largo do Carmo on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, namely climbing the slippery pole, wooden ski run, tug of war and amongst others. Table football tournaments will also be featured during the afternoon of Saturdays and Sunday. There will also be a recreational space for children and a radio station, "Radio Carmo", will be installed on site to broadcast Portuguese-speaking countries and regions music throughout the Festival.
In addition, during the dinner period of the three days of the Festival, at Largo do Carmo, dishes from Macao and three Macao Portuguese-speaking countries or regions will be served. The temporary restaurant in the Taipa Municipal Garden will serve Portuguese dishes for dinner and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, including typical Portuguese grilled food and specialties from the participating Portuguese-speaking countries or regions. There will be a temporary kiosk installed on the site will serve typical Portuguese snacks and drinks.
The three-day Lusofonia Festival, which includes dances and songs, games, food and multinational flavours, allows the public to experience the splendid and dynamic side of the Portuguese-speaking countries or regions as well as to understand more about the rich cultural heritage of each of them. The event takes place simultaneously with the "Encounter in Macau – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries", inviting citizens to come and experience the festive atmosphere of the theme park. The Cultural Affairs Bureau hopes to enrich the cultural tourism experience of citizens and visitors through the Lusofonia Festival and a series of artistic activities, enhancing the effect of the event and creating a Sino-Portuguese cultural experience brand for Macao.
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 call IC through tel. no. 8399 6818 / 8399 6827 during office hours, visit the "Encounter in Macau – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries" website www.icm.gov.mo/FCP, Facebook page “ IC Art” or WeChat page “IC do Instituto Cultural de Macau”.