The City of Cidade Velha, located in the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Cape Verde, is set to host the inaugural International Storytelling Festival, titled "Cidade Velha, na Solera Porta Ku Nos Gentis Grandi". The three-day event, scheduled for October 16-18, will bring together storytellers, artists, educators, and mediators from diverse geographical locations. The festival aims to create a space for encounter and exchange between oral tradition, memory, and contemporary creation.
The festival will feature participants from Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Brazil, Portugal, and other countries, including Timor-Leste and Angola, who will join in online. The program includes a range of activities such as storytelling, marionettes, workshops, researcher presentations, storytelling circles, conferences, and traditional Tabanka performances. The event is organized by RJ ANIMA - Associação de Dinamização Ambiental, Social e Cultural, in collaboration with the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago and partners.
The festival's program will take place across various locations in the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago, including schools, the Cidade Velha, and other community gathering spaces. On October 18, which is also the National Day of Culture and Communities, the festival will continue at the Hidrobase in Calheta de São Martinho, with a focus on storytelling, the sea, and the launch of the third book of the Stória trilogy.
The first edition of the festival will bring together voices and experiences from Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Brazil, Mozambique, and Portugal, with Timor-Leste and Angola joining online. The event aims to create a platform for stories to circulate among people, islands, countries, and generations, valuing oral tradition as a living heritage and contemporary practice.
The festival's organizers emphasize that the event seeks to approximate people, territories, and generations through the sharing of stories and experiences. The program is designed to be inclusive, engaging different audiences and age groups. By promoting oral tradition and storytelling, the festival aims to foster a sense of community and cultural exchange.
The International Storytelling Festival is an initiative of RJ ANIMA - Associação de Dinamização Ambiental, Social e Cultural, in partnership with the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago and other collaborators. The event is expected to contribute to the promotion of Cape Verdean culture and the valorization of oral tradition as an important aspect of the country's heritage.
As the festival approaches, anticipation is building among local communities and participants. The event promises to be a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, creative expression, and intergenerational dialogue. With its focus on storytelling and oral tradition, the International Storytelling Festival is set to become a significant cultural event in Cape Verde and beyond.
Key points
- The festival will feature participants from around the world, including Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Brazil, and Portugal.
- The event aims to create a platform for stories to circulate among people, islands, countries, and generations, valuing oral tradition as a living heritage and contemporary practice.
- The festival's program includes a range of activities such as storytelling, marionettes, workshops, and traditional performances.
