After performing Goan dances in India and Canada, Mando Mogi Margao was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India to perform at various venues in Tunisia at the Festival of India. Under the leadership of Pervis Gomes, the 15-member troupe performed five shows in Tunisia, North East Africa to a packed audience, dancing to the beats of Dekhni, Fugdi, Mando and Dhalo.
Mando Mogi Margao, a socio cultural organisation, was founded in 1997 with the aim to promote and protect the rich cultural heritage of Goa in the form of art and culture. Over the years, their group has newer members joining in and adding their talent of music and dance to take the organisation to greater heights. They were thrilled to be informed that their troupe was selected from India to perform in Tunisia. Pervis Gomes says, “This was our first trip to the African continent and we were lucky to be selected among other Indian states by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. We were a strong group of fifteen members, mostly youngsters and new faces right from the age of 19 years onwards, comprising doctors, engineers, lawyers, professional dancers and students. Although we were informed two months in advance that our group was shortlisted to perform in Tunisia, we got the confirmation only a month before the program.”
He further adds, “The trip was well sorted yet very hectic. We were provided with the best travel and stay facilities. We performed at places like Sheraton Tunis Hotel on the Hindi day, Cultural Space, Gammarth, Madison de la culture, khaldoun, Airana Municipality and on the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) day at Tunis, where we performed different Goan dances like Dekhni, Fugdi, Mando and Dhalo. All the shows were houseful and our folk songs and dances were well appreciated. The program was inaugurated at the hands of His Excellency Prashant Pise, Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of Tunisia and Raj Bala, Head of Chancery in Tunisia and was concluded by His Excellency Hatem Ferjani, Secretary of State for Economic Diplomacy in Tunisia, who also felicitated the group. The highlight of the program was the cultural fusion of Tunisian and South Indian performance by the group. It was a beautiful experience. The Tunisian locals were very welcoming and every performance well organised.”
The group comprised leader, dancer and singer, Pervis, the musicians were Colin Arcanjo Pereira, Dr Nihal Adriel, Divya Dinesh Naik and Cio Carvalho while the dancers comprised Dr Lenin Vaz, Mariah Gomes, Mavlon Afonso, Sheena Pinto, Melita Pinto, Reagan Pinto, Suchita Velip, Nikita Afonso, Dr Luella Afonso and Vishant Khandeparkar. “Tunisia is a very beautiful country and we visited many places but the one we liked the most was Sidi Bou Said. It is a touristic place in North Tunisia atop a steep cliff that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The entire town is painted in beautiful shades of white and blue with flower vines draping the town,” says Pervis.
“Seeing the love and passion for our music and dance, being widely acclaimed and accepted by other countries, motivates and encourages our youngsters to take up our own folk art and music,” says Pervis, on how such visits to different countries can help promote the love of traditional songs and dances among youngsters in Goa.
Mando Mogi Margao has been participating in the annual state level Mando Festival since 1997 and have performed at the Goan Convention held in Toronto, Canada, International Music festival held in Guwahati, Assam and Goenkaracho Ekvott Festival at New Delhi. Presently, the group is under intense training to launch their first maiden DVD featuring traditional Goan folk songs and dances. “This is our first ever DVD. It includes Goan folk songs and dances like Mando, Dekhni, Fugdi and Dhalo. My team and I have put in a lot of effort to make it stand out from the other DVDs, keeping in mind our main motive to preserve our folk art for posterity. It will be released in the month of October,” concludes Pervis.
