On the occasion of the celebration of Portuguese national day, the Embassy of Portugal in Windhoek is organising a concert with OMIRI on 14 June.

Starting at 19h00 at the National Theatre of Namibia, this Portuguese electrofolk music concert will carry the audience on a journey through Portugal in a unique multimedia show. 

OMIRI is one of the most original projects to reinvent Portuguese music. 

“To reinvent tradition, there is nothing better than bringing the real players of Portuguese culture to the show itself; musicians and soundscapes from all over Portugal, playing and singing as if they were part of the same universe. Not in flesh and blood but in sound and images, with video field recordings manipulated in order to serve as a musical base for Vasco Ribeiro Casais’ composition and improvisation,” reads an invite to the event. 

OMIRI, above all, remixes the culture of the 21st century, mixing in one show already-forgotten musical practices, making them permeable and accessible to the culture of the day, synchronising forms and music of Portuguese rural tradition with the language of the urban culture. 

Admission is free, and tickets can be collected at the National Theatre of Namibia along John Meinert Street from Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 13h00 and 14h00 to 17h00.

For the artists in Namibia, the Portuguese musician, founder of OMIRI, Vasco Ribeiro Casais, will conduct a free one-day workshop on 15 June at the NTN (10h00 to 12h00 and 13h30 to 16h00). 

The OMIRI workshop is a space of discovery where the artist shares his tools and working methods, and will provide a look at traditions and some ways to modernise them. In this workshop, there will be a discussion and practical demonstrations on musical instruments (traditional ways of playing and new approaches), and on software and hardware (technical notions and their exploration).  All the participants are welcome to bring along their instruments, especially traditional ones. 

All artists in Namibia are most welcome to attend, and are invited to enrol until Monday, free of charge, through the following email: pro@ntn.org.na or telephone: 061 374 400. 

This event is funded by Camões, IP (Portuguese Institute for Cooperation and Language), and also received generous sponsorship from Portuguese entrepreneurs residing in Namibia, which together made this event possible, viz Kubata City Hotel, Dunas Safari Tours, Isabel’s Table, The Cork & Fork Restaurant, and The Hook.