Thaindian News

Panaji, June 2 (IANS) Younger generations of Portuguese citizens of Goan origin would “rather go watch a movie”, than listen to stories and facts about their Goan heritage, feels a leading Portugual based musician.

Arvi Barbosa is a member of a Lisbon-based Goan music troupe called Ekvat. It is scheduled to perform in Goa Thursday.

“The new generation would rather go watch a movie, rather than dance with us,” said Arvi, addressing a press conference in Panaji.

Ekvat has 25 performers, of whom 17 are Goans born and brought up in what was once Portuguese East Africa and others from Portugal, who specialize in Goan music written in Konkani.

“Goans born in Africa had very little or no knowledge of Konkani, although a few of them might have heard Goan music as kids in their parents’ home. To teach them to sing in Konkani and to dance Goan deknnis, harvest dances and mandos is the normal task of Ekvat,” Arvi said.

Arvi said that while Ekvat has tried to stick to the traditional aspects of Goan music over the years, the repertoire of this musical group has evolved and included modern Goan music too.

“We started first with music and dance pieces we had brought with us from Goa. Gradually, over the years we have been creating new songs and dances,” he said.

Virginia Bras Gomes, also a Portuguese national and a member of the troupe, said that Ekvat is a part of Casa de Goa, a foundation based in Lisbon set up to promote Goan culture in Portugal.

The troupe is backed by Goa based Non-Resident Commissioner for Goans, Eduardo Faleiro.

“The purpose of this group is to make music and dance of Goa known to a wider audience and to motivate the young generation of Goans born abroad to identify themselves with their ancestral roots and culture,” said Faleiro, a former union minister of state for external affairs.

The Portuguese ruled Goa as a colony for nearly 450 years, before Goa was liberated from the Luso regime in 1961 by the Indian army.