GEFAC, Group of Ethnography and
Folklore of the University of Coimbra, is an independent group from
Coimbras's Students Union
which has as a major aim the recovery of the dignity of portuguese culture based on our
traditional roots as a mean to develop the portuguese pride about their own
identity. It was founded in 1966 and for the last 33 years its members
have been collecting, studing and presenting most of Portugal's hidden
treasures of traditional dances, songs, rituals, myths and customs, most of
which are unknown for the majority of the portuguese population.
Even though it is an University
group, GEFAC has strongly succeeded in developping an evident and deep
relationship with the local community in Coimbra. Nowadays, along with the
young students arriving in town from the far away rural villages, the
group stil include some who have already finished their studies and who
want to remain attached to this very rich cultural and human experience.
During all these years, GEFAC had
more than 70O shows, promoting portuguese culture all over the country and
also abroad. We have also recorded more than 20 shows for TV and Radio.
More than just a presentation of folk
dances and songs, our show is a global approach to the real life and
emotions of the people of Portugal. In a single show, spectators may
listen to men's polyphonies or to powerful stings or percurssion
ensembles; they may also see a wide range of dances and colourful
traditional costums (changing from dance to dance), according to the rich
variety of Portuguese local traditions.
The show, created as a play, is
about history of the customs, festivities, rites, singing and dancing of
the portuguese people. There we mix religious and pagan activities and we
bring face to face good and evil, in their eternal fight through time.
In a different field of activity,
GEFAC has promoted, every two years, seminars and shows on traditional
culture - called Jornadas
de Cultura Popular -, an important cultural event that has already
brought to Coimbra groups of dancers and musicians from several countries
of the world. Besides that, and during this event, we usually ofer the
public the possibility of visiting some expositions and participating in
some conferences about popular culture.