Organized by The Cultural Affairs Bureau, Co-Organized by The Macau Government Tourism Office and the Municipals Affairs Bureau, and primarily supported by Galaxy Entertainment Group, the 2023 GEG Lusofonia Festival takes place with the 5th Encounter in Macau – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Lusofonia Festival started in 1998, and this year is the 26th edition. This popular festival's main objective is to pay homage to Portuguese-speaking communities, residents in the Macao SAR, who have contributed greatly to the development of Macau, as well as promoting cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and Regions. In this edition of the Festival, greater emphasis will be placed on promoting Portuguese culture through Portuguese gastronomy and handicraft shows.
The event also brings diversified activities to the public, such as the display of cultural exhibitors from the 10 Portuguese-speaking communities residing in Macau, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Goa, Daman and Diu, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and the Macanese community. They will showcase music, dance, arts, crafts, traditional costumes, literature, tourist information, and the typical snacks and drinks of their countries or regions.
CARLÃO
Portugal
FOGO FOGO
Cabo Verde
SAMBALA CANUTÉ
Guiné-Bissau
During the three days of the Festival around 30 Portuguese-speaking artistic groups from Macau will provide audiences with different genres of music and dance on the main stage at the Taipa Amphitheater, and also light music on the stage installed in Largo do Carmo. To close the 3 nights of performances with a bang, the artists Carlão (Portugal), Fogo Fogo (Cape Verde) and Sambala Canuté (Guinea Bissau) were invited to liven up the main stage of the Festival. The Festival’s temporary restaurant, operating in the Taipa Municipal Garden, will serve grilled food and typical Portuguese specialties while at Largo do Carmo, specialties from the various participating countries/regions will be served at dinner. There will be also a temporary kiosk serving typical Portuguese snacks and drinks by the entrance to the Taipa Houses. Furthermore, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, visitors of all ages can participate in the Portuguese Traditional Games, namely the ski race, sack race, wooden spoon race, climbing the tallow stick, tug of war, throwing the ball, and rings on the crosspiece, amongst others, as well as Table Football Tournaments and various games for children.
Over the years, the Lusofonia Festival has become an important event for sharing the culture of Portuguese-speaking communities with the Chinese culture, revealing Macau's role as a platform for cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
2023 GEG Lusofonia Festival