Serenaded by floral gardens, a path unfolds, guiding visitors to the iconic yellow balcao of Solar Loiola Pereira in Benaulim. Rhythmic beats echo from the ghumot, a local clay drum in Goa. As the sun dips, casting a radiant glow upon the Azulejo tiles, Omar De Loiola Pereira, custodian of this ancestral abode for three generations, tunes his guitar with a radiant smile, extending a warm welcome to the audience, a mix of discerning locals and curious travellers, all seeking to unearth the historical Portuguese roots of Goa.
The production of ‘Sounds From Goa’ was conceptualised by Omar and his friend Schubert Fernandes in 2020 to further the cause of folk and Goan-Portuguese music as a heritage home concert. He is joined by his troupe — the gracious Nadia Rebelo — one of the only few remaining Fadistas in India, and Selwyn Menezes on violin. . “We felt that we should create an ambience where our rich culture can all come together in a way that audiences not only hear but also touch and feel and experience these sounds,” Schubert says enthusiastically.
