SA: The Portuguese Forum to host inaugural Madeira Fest in Joburg

Confirmed artists who will perform at the inaugural Madeira Fest include local artists Kurt Darren, Chunda Munki, Loufi, Lee Cole, Irene van Wyk, Biggy, Diana de Sousa, Luis Almeida, Nicole da Silva, Brent Harris & Thee Jam, and Dr Victor & The Rasta Rebels. They will be joined by Portuguese musicians Sérgio Rossi, João Quintino and Álvaro Florença as well as DJ Dino Bravo (Angola/Cuba).

“Madeira Fest is a three-day celebration of Portuguese and South African culture through music, dance, food and fun,” Portuguese Forum chairperson and event organiser Manny Ferreirinha told Music In Africa. “It’s important, in this sometimes stressed out world, to be able come together as a nation in a spirit of joy and family and reignite a sense of Ubuntu in all of us.”

Prior to the pandemic, The Portuguese Forum hosted a successful music event. “Pre-COVID, in both 2017 and 2018, we hosted the country’s most successful Portuguese festival, Caravela, at Monte Casino,” Ferreirinha said. “With the dark days of lockdown behind us, and as summer approaches with a new vibrant spirit in the air, we wanted to showcase out pride in our joint Portuguese and South African heritage. Festival goers can expect the best food, wine and music in a safe and family oriented environment.”

Ferreirinha said the festival takes its name from Madeira Island, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean that is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal with deep roots in the Portuguese community in South Africa.

Tickets to the event can be purchased here. Find more about the festival here.