“We believe that there is abundance of potential talent
in Goa as far as Fado is concerned, and that’s why we
are sure that Fado contests and workshops will certainly
help give a much needed boost to this art form,” said Prof
Delfim Correia da Silva, Director of Instituto Camões,
Panjim. He was speaking prior to this year’s first Fado
preparatory workshop that is held for the contestants
of the Fado Singing Contest organised by Semana da
Cultura Indo-Portuguesa every year.
“Fado is not a very old art form. Developed at the
end of the 19th century, Fado in Portugal is following
some new trends and the young generation is bringing
in innovations to this art in its own unique way. Fado
has been a part of Goa’s art and music for long, and our
experience in the last three editions of the contest has
brought forward a few potential Fadistas. Also, I have
observed that many people feel that something like
Fado can be used to attract more tourists to our beautiful
state,” explains Prof Delfim.
This year, Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa will
be collaborating with Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, and
the contest in its fourth edition this year will be called
‘Fado De Goa 2016’. This year, the contest will expand
its reach to look for new stars and new avenues. Also,
use of proper instruments, especially the Portuguese
Guitar, has been made compulsory for the participants.
Franz Schubert Cotta, a musician who has mastered the
Portuguese guitar, explains how important it is to sing
Fado along with a Portuguese Guitar: “The Portuguese
guitar is something that goes along with Fado. You just
can’t separate the two. They complement each other
too well.”
Nadia Rebelo, a popular young fadista in Goa, who
had participated in the Fado contest twice and won the
trophy once, is on-board to train the participants this
year. “I was introduced to Fado through Vem Cantar. As I
developed an interest in this art, I started singing Fado on
a larger scale and started performing with Sonia Shirsat
and Schubert. It was during my trip to Portugal that I
witnessed some fantastic Fado performances and fell in
love with this art.”
While this workshop was more of an interaction that
was information oriented, the next workshop, which
will take place on November 18, 2016, will focus on the
other aspects of the contest. “Our aim is to promote
Fado, and create a movement for awareness about this
art. At the next workshop at Fundação Oriente, Panjim,
participants will have to perform and improve. Everything
right from their singing to their posture will be observed
and corrected. The workshops are aimed at the overall
grooming of the contestants,” states Orty Soares,
Chairperson, Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa.
Another new element that has been incorporated
in the Fado contest this year is the collaboration with
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Bosco Futardo, Regional
Manager, Learning and Development, Taj Goa, explains
this initiative by Taj, saying, “Taj has taken up this activity
under its initiative to promote local art and culture. We
are beginning as a partner to Semana da Cultura Indo-
Portuguesa, but are planning to take this to a greater
level. The programme includes awareness activities
where we would promote Fado in schools, colleges,
corporate, etc, workshops that will be conducted at
regular intervals throughout the year, and competitions.”
“Fado has been in Goa for long, and has also
influenced Goa’s very own Mando in many ways. Yet,
it’s a dying art form in Goa, today. In the mid-’50s or so,
when Fado didn’t have much exposure, it was popular
Goan fadistas like Milucha da Veiga Coutinho that tried
their best to promote it here. Now, similar kind of work
is being done by the likes of Sonia Shirsat, Nadia Rebelo
and so on. I feel that much more needs to be done in
order to preserve this wonderful form of music in our
state,” concludes Schubert.
The fourth edition of the Fado contest by Semana
da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa, ‘Fado De Goa 2016’, will
be held on November 27, 2016 at Institute Menezes
Braganza Hall, Panjim
