The project has more than a dozen artists, who will perform on independence day, November 11, at the Capitol Theatre in Parque Mayer, in a show that will be broadcast by RTP and the Angolan Public Television (TPA), explained the producer Ricardo Santos to the Lusa agency.
This is "a project in freedom to celebrate our independence, which was our emancipation," said Bonga, to Lusa.
Besides this musician, with more than 50 years of career, the singers Yola Semedo, Don Kikas, Eduardo Paim, Kyaku Kyadaff, Sérgio Belera, Mago de Sousa, Klaudio Hoshai, Helvio and Vulinho, and the instrumentalists Carlitos Xiemba participate, Galiano Neto, Betinho Feijó, Helmano Coelho, Jéssica Pina, Rui Gonçalves, Tino Mc, Mick Trovoada, Anderson Ivo, Kalu Ferreira and Yura, in the choirs, "reference musicians in the Angolan musical panorama", according to the producer.
For Bonga, "the contact between generations is fundamental, in order to pass on the traditions of [Angolan] parents and grandparents to the youngest".
Bonga, 78, argued that "modernity does not mean forgetting or putting aside roots" and, in that sense, "it's good" for all musicians to get together "and not stay each in his own backyard.
The creator of "Mariquinha" said that "there is a lot of division within current Angolan society, which faces problems like any other, which can only be overcome by the union of all.
"The emancipation of Angola gave us hope, because we believed that we would be led by our own family," continued the musician, quoting a song by José Afonso, said that "also in Angola it happens that 'some eat everything and leave nothing'.
Bonga, author of "Uma Lágrima no Canto do Olho", among other hits, defended the need for "a greater knowledge of Angolan music and musical practice", rich in rhythms and sonorities.
On November 11, 1975, Angola declared its independence from Portugal, which had kept the territory under colonial administration for over 500 years.
Today, Angola is one of nine countries that are part of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), alongside Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor. Equatorial Guinea joined the CPLP in 2014.
