The Goan youngsters while performing at the Viva Sao Joao event organised by the Goan Community in Qatar.
DOHA
Promoting Konkani language and getting the younger generation to learn the language in a foreign land is a gruelling task.
Those Goans aware of the practical difficulties have a long list of obstacles to narrate which they faced when they took upon the task of teaching the children the language of their forefathers.
THE IDEA
Goan community leader Filomeno Alves had the same problem on hand. But out of the blue a solution came from nowhere. He calls its divine providence. A musical route to make Goan youngsters in Qatar learn the language.
“One day, I was with our family friends Lenon and Miloska Miranda’s place and I saw their son Raul and his friend Noah Sequeira practicing the drums. An idea suddenly came to my mind about starting a children’s band,” recalls Filomeno, who has spent some 43 years working in Qatar.
Alves, who traces his routes to Loutolim, said the task was made easier as most schoolchildren were part of the Marian Church Choir group of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Qatar.
For the unversed, the Marian Church Choir group assembled eight years back has been an English hymn singing choir and not a Konkani one.
Having floated the idea to other Goan community members and parents of the children of a Konkani singing band comprising young musicians and singers, the idea finally took off and reached the next stage with final stamp of approval from maestro Mario D’Costa and blessing of Fr Rosario Colaco, the Goan priest based in Qatar.
FINDING A SINGER
Getting the musicians was easy but getting a young raw lead singer to sing in Konkani was not so easy. Alves spread the word far and wide, a few days and weeks went but with no success. No was ready to put up their hands and ready for the challenge.
In the meantime, the band of mostly young musicians and a few seasoned mentors had a couple of practices, but the Konkani lead female singer remained elusive.
Filomeno's search continued, and it landed on the doors of a community member.
“My daughter sings at her school and won a few prizes but all of that in English. But she is familiar with Konkani and has been practicing a few Konkani songs especially of her idol Lorna Cordeiro, a few months back, she has not performed outside her school campus even English songs, let alone Konkani,” the parent had told Alves.
At another level, Alves had a short but effective talk with the young singer during the Goan community badminton tournament and convinced her to sing in Konkani.
She readily agreed. Alves asked for her voice samples and a video of her singing in English. Mario then got in turn with the Grade XI girl.
TRAINING CHILDREN
From there on Mario took charge and took on the task to train the children and make them ready for the challenge. With musical notes and lyrics of all songs in hand, they went on the task for the next couple of days in a professional manner.
What followed from the practice session were some long lasting friendship and bonding. The silver lining was the fun and the special moments they shared together.
LEARNING KONKANI
Setting up the school band served two purposes – making young children familiar with Konkani language and getting the children and adults alike to learning the language throughout music practice sessions.
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THE BAND
Noah Matos Sequeira (drums), Neville Sequeira (bass guitar), Raul Miranda (drums), Leah Miranda (guitar), Leah Fernandes (guitar), Steve Fernandes (keyboard), Aditi Pinto (guitar), Kiran Dias (bass guitar), Ashorah Vas (singer), Rosario Fernandes (singer), Mario D’Costa (mentor) and Liam Fernandes (band manager).
“Every time they practiced the songs and read the lyrics of the songs, it was a learning experience for all of them, they learnt new words, had a laugh over them and their parents explained to them the meaning of the words,” said Roldao Fernandes. His daughter Leah played the guitar and son Liam was the band manager.
For the elders and parents, who were part of the practice sessions, some of whom grew up in Mumbai and in Qatar, each day during the practice session was brushing up on their Konkani or learning some new words.
Another scenario which unfolded was North Goa Konkani vs South Goa Konkani, with each of the members having a hearty laugh over the words, which differ from North to South of Goa.
“It was a new learning experience for many of us when it came to Konkani. For the children it was a new beginning. It was a challenge for all of us. All of them learned many new words in Konkani and went home richer and with a wide knowledge of the language,” said Filomeno.
Their inquisitiveness and hunger to learn more Konani words was there for everyone to see in the near-perfect musical performance that the band gave during the Sao Joao celebration in Qatar.
“It was a brilliant performance, everybody showered praises on the young band mentored by seniors like Mario, Steve, Kiran and Neville, who guided the young budding musicians and singers and gave them tons of confidence ahead of the show,” said Larissa Pinto, who played a key role in organising the logistics for the band.
The Goan youngsters while performing at the Viva Sao Joao event organised by the Goan Community in Qatar.
The group sang some eight songs on the occasion which kept the 200-odd fans on their toes.
“Hopefully, we will have many more performances by the band in the months ahead under the Goan Community in Qatar,” said Filomeno.
A new beginning has been made and there is no looking back,” he added.
Next up for the upcoming musicians and singers is the one-hour long performance during the cultural celebrations at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Qatar.
