A silver jubilee with a difference, says Armand Rodrigues
Rudely expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin in 1972, some four thousand Goans unwittingly found themselves scrambling for refuge on distant shores. Pierre Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada at the time, accepted a large contingent for domicile. For Canada, it was the first operation of its kind to rescue non-European refugees.
Today, all in Canada credit the expulsion with transforming their lives for the better. Cause enough to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their expulsion. Under the chairmanship of Stan D'Souza they threw a four-day bash, from 18 to 21 July in Toronto, that included a Gala Dance, sports, a play, and a picnic. It was full-house everywhere. Visitors included fellow-Ugandans from England, Switzerland, the United States and from coast to coast in Canada.
Ugandan dancers and musicians provided colourful skits with a nostalgic flavour at the Gala Dance. The throbbing African drums revived some somnolent memories from one's subconscious. Placido Dias' thematic decorations included banana trees, large paintings of important buildings in Uganda, a huge canvas of wild life in its natural habitat and a thatched hut complete with real spears, stools and other common African accoutrements. The banquet table was a feast for the senses of the 830 revellers.
The play, The Uganda Stopover, was written by Al Lobo and depicted the transition from Goa to Uganda, the idyllic life in Uganda until the ill-fated "kick", and the eventual metamorphosis in Canada. The cast was composed entirely of the younger generation, whose parents were the real Ugandan birds of passage. Directed by young Melissa Alvares, the vibrant dances were ably choreographed by Marsha Alvares, who herself was younger than some of the dancers. The finale was a collection of dances following the journey of the intrepid travellers: Dekhni, a Kunbi dance, Carnaval (a Portuguese dance), an African number and one with North American gyrations, The theme song, composed and written by Tom Francis, captured the salient features of the glorious life in Uganda.
London, England will kick-off its Uganda Goans' celebrations with a 500-strong barbeque in August and a dinner for 600 in October. The organisers are Victor D'Mello, Ferdinand Rodrigues, Alex D'Mello and Joe Mendes.
Visual Delight
The Alliance Francaise de Goa has a painting exhibition titled 'Women of now and forever' on display at its gallery. They are the works of European and India women artists who had got together at a camp organised by the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore in February. The concept of the camp focused on how the eternal woman asserts herself in the present from the social, domestic and professional points of view as much as from the psychological, artistic and spiritual. This camp was the first of its kind in India and it turned out some outstanding paintings.
Mandos Forever
If at all there was ever a compilation of Goa's most popular Mandos, then this it is! Manddeacho Nad is a 11-mando tribute to that wellknown satirist of yesteryear Cruz Noronha of Siolim, popularly known as Cruz Jazzwala. The timeless Angounn beautifully sung by Young Chico and Julius begins the cascade of soothing folk music. Nid Podonam emotionally belted out by Lourdes and Bellis, Rozakina Kazar by Bellis, Julius and Richard, Jurament by Roshan and Bellis, the humorous Kazarachea Matwan sung by Bellis Manuel and Julius and a special mando Art Sopnan dedicated to the late Cruz Noronha comprise side A of the audio. The popular Nirmon Devache soulfully rendered by Bellis and Manuel, Hospitalan Khatir by Felcy in her inimitable style, the lively Oh Chedva Go, Bar Nidecho and the eternal favourite Poti Yeh make up side B. The finely orchestrated music by Day Breakers effectively enhances the nostalgia Manddeacho Nad creates.
The Konkani audio cassette which is presented by the Day Breakers, and released under the Sinaris label all over Goa and Mumbai is reasonably priced at Rs 50. A must-buy for the Konkani music lover and a gift expatriate Goans will cherish.
(Goa Today/September 1997)