Seated in the lobby of the Goa Tourism
office in Panjim last Saturday, Roque
Francisco Tome Fernandes’ face is calm and
composed, as he awaits the results of the
King Momo 2017 selections.
The 65-year-old is famous as King
Momo in Goa and beyond. If he gets
selected this time, it would be for the fifth
time. He is a friendly man, who smiles
easily. He shakes hands with me and
says, “Hello I am Tome. I am from Panjim.
Everybody knows me as King Momo. I love
to compete for the position, but always
with a good heart. I wish my competitors
all success.”
The results are declared soon after and
Tome is indeed King Momo for the fifth
time. He is modest about his selection.
“God has been kind. As a senior citizen, I
will shower my love and affection on the
people of Goa, and outside, who come to
witness the Carnival celebrations.”
Playing King Momo has become
second nature for Tome. He dons the royal
outfit and greets foreign tourists every time
a cruise liner docks into the Mormugao
Port. He is also the first choice, King Momo
for several event management companies
in Goa. Tome’s diary is choc-a-bloc with
events. If he is performing at a resort in
Candolim today, he could be at a South
Goa resort tomorrow.
I was invited to a similar event in a
South Goa resort last Saturday. “You are a
South Goan. No point calling you all the
way to North Goa,” the new King says. He
declines all help, as he walks briskly from
the car park to the beach side venue with
two large bags and his royal mace.
Seated on a small chair, he begins his
make-up. Experienced entertainer that
he is, he is ready in precisely 15 minutes.
“How do I look now? I don’t look my
age, do I?!” he asks with a wide grin. He
meticulously wears his royal robes, with
some help from one of the brass band
members.
He poses for his first pictures in
King Momo robes, exclusively for the
oHeraldo. “You are working so hard
on the story. I must give you the first
pictures,” he says.
Tome worked with the Government
Printing Press in Panjim for 40 years,
and retired five years back as a Senior
Supervisor. “We used to do a lot of
printing work for the Police Department
and the RTO, and I always ensured that
the work was done in time. I never hurt
anyone in my entire career. Everybody
called me ‘Tome Brother’ with love and
affection,” he says.
Tome has been a percussionist for
most part of his life, and has played with
bands of the calibre of Companeros
and Sparks. He is also the older brother
of noted drummer, Bondo Fernandes.
“Bondo has made us proud by becoming
an international drummer. I am happy
being King Momo!” he says.
Tome is father to two sons and three
daughters who live in Benaulim with their
mother, while Tome looks after an ailing
sister in his Panjim home. “I am happy
with what life has given me. God has
been very kind,” he says.
