Younger Goans in Portugal prefer movies to culture

Panaji: Younger generations of Portuguese citizens of Goan origin would "rather go watch a movie", than listen to stories and facts about their Goan heritage, feels a leading Portugual based musician.

Arvi Barbosa is a member of a Lisbon-based Goan music troupe called Ekvat. It is scheduled to perform in Goa Thursday. "The new generation would rather go watch a movie, rather than dance with us," said Arvi, addressing a press conference in Panaji. Ekvat has 25 performers, of whom 17 are Goans born and brought up in what was once Portuguese East Africa and others from Portugal, who specialize in Goan music written in Konkani. "Goans born in Africa had very little or no knowledge of Konkani, although a few of them might have heard Goan music as kids in their parents` home. To teach them to sing in Konkani and to dance Goan deknnis, harvest dances and mandos is the normal task of Ekvat," Arvi said. Arvi said that while Ekvat has tried to stick to the traditional aspects of Goan music over the years, the repertoire of this musical group has evolved and included modern Goan music too. IANS