It's already tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30, that the second edition of FORA – Algarve Orality Festival starts. Performances, workshops, concerts, balls and lectures, always under the motto of the Algarve's oral heritage, will enliven the city of Portimão and, on Thursday, it will reach Alvor.
There will be a presence of slang and tongue twisters, oral history, legends, popular religion, accents and ways of doing things that pass from generation to generation in the voice of the people of the Algarve.
FORA is a unique opportunity to see, hear, participate and have fun in a series of free-entry events.
It all starts on Tuesday night, June 30th. The invitation is to go to the Municipal Theater of Portimão and watch the opening of the festival, with the screening of the film floripes by Miguel Gonçalves Mendes.
Let yourself be enchanted by the Moorish woman, but the next day, don't miss the factory sirens' call. At 18:00 on Wednesday, the Municipal Museum of Portimão opens its doors to visitors, who will be guided by the stories of ancient workers and men of the sea.
The evening continues with a space for reflection on the relationship between oral heritage and the museum space, with the participation of Maria Luísa Francisco, researcher and regional delegate of the Portuguese Association of Museums (APOM), Ana Patrícia Ramos, anthropologist at the Municipal Museum of Portimão, and Idalina Nobre, coordinator of the Intangible Cultural Heritage working group of the Algarve Museum Network. The session starts at 21 pm, with the performance of the Accordion Orchestra of the Academy of Music of Lagos, directed by Gonçalo Pescada.
On Thursday, FORA heads to Alvor. The meeting point is the Castle, at 18 pm. There you can discover the secrets and cures for all ailments, in a medicine workshop that promises to attract even the most unbelievers.
The night continues with the recreation of a traditional practice in Alvor: corn husking. Listen to the stories and singing, well watered.
Friday afternoon begins at Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes, with a space dedicated to the younger generation. At 15:00 pm, the ASAS clinic invites the little ones to play with words and, at 16:00 pm, the linquintinas of the Algarve appear in the voice of Nagragadas.
From 17:00, the stage changes to the Old Lota de Portimão building. First, the Canto Reborn Group brings the sound and poetry of the voices of the Algarve.
Afterwards, it's time for tradition to marry innovation in the TASA project – Tradições Ancestralis, Soluções Atuais, presented by Sara Fernandes (ProActivetur) and Catarina Cruz (CCDR Algarve).
At 18:30 pm, popular religiosity arrives at FORA, in a conversation about beliefs, superstitions, prayers and plagues conducted by Margarida Tengarrinha and Conceição Cruz.
FORA continues with one of the most traditional practices in the Algarve: the harvesting and distillation of arbutus. At 19:30, the Confraria do Medronho will share the stories behind the intoxicating fruit and then will offer us an inspired musical moment.
The music continues on FORA. At 21 pm, the Moças Nagragadas bring the traditional songs of the Algarve.
Afterwards, it's time to dance with Marcelo Rio at the Baile FORA. But the night doesn't end here. After midnight, the urban myths FORA de Horas appear.
FORA Saturday starts at 17:30 pm, at Antiga Lota de Portimão, to learn the traditional arts and crafts at FORA workshops and learn how to prepare anchovy, how to delight your family and friends with regional sweets and how to make your own baskets and works in palm.
Afterwards, the conversation follows under the motto of the accent and the traditional expressions of the Algarve. The discussion is launched between professor Maria Alice Fernandes (Superior School of Education and Communication of the University of Algarve), humorist Dário Guerreiro and writer Sérgio Brito.
Another night of music at FORA. At 21 pm, Amigos da Figueira brings the most traditional sounds and then the ball is open to the sound of Pedro Silva's accordion.
The party doesn't end here. Saturday's FORA Hours starts with the anecdotes of D. Alzira – from Mexilhoeira Grande, with a lot of humor. And to finish off in beauty, Dário Guerreiro returns, now in the shoes of Môce dum Cabréste, for a pleasant chat.
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