A cultural journey to Timor-Leste

Prepare for a unique cultural experience as Hamoris Lian Timor (Reviving the Sound of Timor), a powerful project from Timor-Leste, makes its way to the Mansfield Arts Centre on Thursday 8 August. One of three performances in the region, the students of Timbertop will be the first to enjoy the show, with students at Mansfield Secondary College invited to a matinee session before the evening event which is open to the public. This special event, part of a whirlwind Australian tour, promises to bring the rich traditions, captivating music, vibrant dance, and poignant spoken stories of Timor-Leste to the township. Hamoris Lian Timor is more than a performance, it’s also a celebration of a resilient nation's soul, capturing the essence of Timor from its soaring mountains to its historic towns and coastal capital. The tour holds significant meaning as Timor-Leste marks over 50 years since the displacement of war and the resulting diaspora of its people into Australia. Honouring the enduring connection between the Timorese people and the Australian communities that welcomed them, this moving showcase also pays tribute to the generations who, through decades of displacement and struggle, still managed to preserve their language, music, and identity and carry their rich culture across oceans. Paulo Almeida from Wantok Musik is instrumental in facilitating and driving the tour and he explained the project's origins and its unique focus. An Australian-based not-for-profit music label and arts social enterprise, Wantok Musik focuses on recording, releasing, and promoting culturally infused music from Indigenous Australia, Melanesia, and Oceania. "This is the first time that we're doing a project with artists from Timor," Mr Almeida said. Wantok Music's goal is to raise the profile of both Indigenous and world music groups, introducing these voices to a wider audience and by doing so provide economic opportunities for artists, and ensure long-term career sustainability. "Artists rarely have the opportunity to travel outside of Timor," he said. His extensive groundwork to locate talent involved travelling to villages in Timor-Leste, engaging directly with community leaders. "The first time I visited, I spoke to the priest in each community," he said. "You always speak to the priest in a local village, because they're the ones that will bring people in." This grassroots approach allowed Mr Almeida to connect with over 40 artists. Of these 40, 11 will be touring and performing locally with the initiative supported by the Office for the Arts, Creative Victoria, and the Government of Timor-Leste. Although Mansfield is the second destination on the tour, it is their debut performance as an 11-artist group with performers currently learning each other's music. The local show represents the first time they will all play together. The performances will feature a diverse array of talent, including Jovi Guterres, Etson Caminha, Izupi and Lafaer Band. Audiences can expect live performances with traditional instruments, haunting melodies, and heartfelt storytelling. The project specifically aims to amplify the voices of women and families who endured occupation, fought for freedom, and shaped new lives far from home. Mr Almeida is also a former member of the renowned Dili Allstars band and shared his personal connection to the project, having been born in Timor himself. He emphasised the generational span of the artists involved, with the youngest recorded artist being just 15 years old and the oldest in their 70s. This broad age range ensures a rich tapestry of perspectives, showcasing both traditional knowledge and contemporary expressions. "It's more than a show, it's a telling of stories," he said. For many of the performers, this tour marks their first time leaving Timor-Leste, making this an even more profound journey for them. Billeted around the shire, the Victorian winter may prove to be a bit of a shock to the system for many of the performers after the tropics of their home country. Julie Aldous, president of Friends of Venilale, a local group with strong ties to Timor-Leste, said it was exciting that Mansfield was able to secure a performance for this limited Australian tour. "It is an opportunity to support musical partnerships with one of our nearest neighbours and be part of a cultural exchange through the arts," she said. Hamoris Lian Timor promises to be an unmissable cultural experience that will transport audiences with the rhythms, beauty, and strength of a people whose stories deserve to be heard.

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