La Familia Gitana

To bring Abril Febril to a close, the stage was taken over by La Família Gitana, a group of young musicians from the Bairro do Fim do Mundo neighbourhood in Cascais. They are united not only by blood ties, but also by their pride in and passion for spreading Gypsy music, culture and tradition further afield.

La Família Gitana are a group of young musicians from Bairro do Fim do Mundo, in Cascais. United by blood, they are also brought together by the pride and joy they take in carrying Romani music, culture and tradition further. Ari was the driving force behind this dream. His guitar was soon joined by Rui’s, followed by Hugo and BA on cajons, Ângelo on vocals and, more recently, Moisés on keyboards. Inspired by the legacy of their parents and uncles – with whom they frequently share the stage – they decided to turn moments of togetherness into gestures of sharing with wider audiences.
Along the way, they have performed at several festivals. They have also collaborated with poet and artist António Poppe, which brought them to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. La Família Gitana has forged a path that is grounded in tradition whilst also blending different cultural, artistic and social expressions, using the power of music to break down prejudices and bring people together.

Photography: Carolina Ribeiro