FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Cafe
Music has been at the centre of many campaigns to rouse the people. From building opposition to apartheid to building consensus to help the starving in Ethopia in the 80’s, music played a pivotal role. Now another song has sparked a challenge that has since lapped the world. An Angolan dance troupe recorded themselves dancing to “Jerusalema” a hit South African house track by DJ Master KG and vocalist Nomcebo in February, they sparked a viral phenomenon. The “Jerusalema” dance challenge is now here in Goa and has been used by the Chicalim church group who danced to create awareness about environmentally destructive projects in Goa. Neha Gawde, student secretary of the Chicalim youth summer club said it was important to be involved in such a campaign because the future of Goa was at stake. She said “We wanted to make people aware by visiting different villages and doing flash mobs. We visit villages on a Sunday and then perhaps couple of days later depending on the schedule of the people who are involved in this campaign. We have so far visited 6 places. We went to St Jacinto island, Bogmalo beach, Miramar beach, Dona Paula beach, Bambolim and have conducted two flash mobs at Chicalim circle”. The flash mobs lasts a maximum of five minutes, they also have a street play where people are informed about what is going on in Goa and also lay down a challenge to other villages to step up to save Goa. People, she said who were present would usually join in the dance and the response at Bogmalo where the people joined in large numbers was encouraging. About 35 people from Chicalim were participating in this campaign and many were working or students in schools and colleges. They flash mobs usually took place in the evening between 5.30 and 5 o clock. Steven Chikle who has choreographed the dance said the people of Goa had to be informed that the development that was being conducted in Goa was not development and would lead to the destruction of Goa. The video was shot at the Verna industrial estate by 7 note creation which comprised Jaime and Aaron with the drone. Steven said “We learned about the effects of the various projects like Mollem, double tracking and coal would have in the long run. Goa will not benefit. Politicians love saying the youth is the future but we have turned it on its head by saying, Youth are the now not the future but the future is ours. We want to give a strong message to the government that we will come out on the road and protest whatever the government is doing in the name of development. It is to protect our future. Whatever happens, our future will be affected. We are ready to train other youth in Goa to join this challenge”. Eric d’souza who was part of the flash mob from Mapusa said Fr Bolmax Pereira, Parish priest of Chicalim, had called them to be part of the challenge. He said it was important for the youth to fight the Save Mollem campaign, double tracking, the cutting of trees and the movement of coal. Eric d’ Souza said it was important everyone stepped out because if they did not it would be too late and Goa would never be the same again. Cecille Rodrigues was part of the flash mob in Miramar last Saturday. She said “We had youth and adults from Taleigao It was good to see youngsters taking part in this campaign and it took me back to my days in college when we were part of various campaigns”. She said the street skit was very apt with two men in suits talking about buying out various parts of the state. One of them represented the political class and other an ambitious businessman. She said they had to be stopped. One can only hope for the sake of Goa the Jerusalema Challenge catches the attention of everyone because the future of the state is certainly at stake.
