Last year, Casa de Goa, celebrated its 30th anniversary in Lisbon. Located in Alcântara, it’s a cultural hub for Goans in Lisbon, keeping both traditions and memories alive.
Besides a library and museum, there’s a restaurant – currently closed but soon to re-open – and regular events, conferences, exhibitions, games, social gatherings and food workshops.
Casa de Goa is particularly active in promoting traditional Goan music and dance: it hosts a folk dance group called Ekvat and the music group Gâmat. Jerónimo Aráujo e Silva is the musical director and also the composer of some of the original songs. Their repertoire includes traditional Goan music but also popular and classic Portuguese numbers.
The groups are open to new members, as one of Casa de Goa’s main goals is to acquaint young people with the culture of their parents and grandparents. Valentino Viegas, from Casa de Goa, regrets that there aren’t more young people participating in the association’s events. “We need new generations to get involved and to continue our legacy,” he said.
Edgar Valles, who led the association for four years until last April, noted that when it were first established, Casa de Goa didn’t have any contact with Junta de Freguesia da Estrela (the closest municipality department), the Indo Portuguese Friendship Society in Goa, or even with the Goan government. Now there’s cooperation across continents (although the former director lamented “the weak participation in many events,” and the delay in reopening the association’s restaurant, especially since the previous iteration of the eatery, called Lisgoa, was run by a chef brought over from Goa who made some of the best desserts in town, including the multi-layered bebinca).
On the other hand, he’s proud of the work accomplished and of the show that Ekvat staged last April in the Teatro Tivoli to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the association.
The dance covered many traditional styles from the mandó, which is sung and danced in aristocratic Goan households, to the fugddi natch, a playful and rhythmic dance that was traditionally performed by farm workers.
With a new board, and a renewed interest in Goan food and culture, the next months will hopefully bring new people to Casa de Goa.
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