History created as maiden Konkani musical nite enchants London
Report: Vinod Barboza
Pics: Brazil Gomes
London, Jun 24: Stan Mendonca, a gifted singer along with his team on Sunday June 23 created history by presenting the first-ever Konkani musical nite in London. More than 500 people from all over the United Kingdom flocked to Copeland School, Wembley, London to watch and enjoy this historic Konkani musical extravaganza.
United Kingdom Member of Parliament for Leicester East, Keith Vaz was present for the event. Editor-in-chief of Daijiworld.com Walter Nandalike along with prominent names in Konkani Dayan D’Souza Mukamar-Dubai, Joseph Mathias-UAE, well known Konkani singer Rony D’Cunha from Kuwait presided over the function.
The event started with a devotional prayer led by Stan Mendonca.
Joseph Sequeira from Warrington brilliantly compered the event, in the opening note Sequiera said ‘This is a great moment for Konkani people in London, made possible by the support of Konkani people in the United Kingdom and people around the world. This is Stan Mendonca’s 7th Konkani Musical Nite. He has three Konkani music CDs to his credit.
Joseph Mathias, Walter Nandalike, Dayan D’Souza Mukamar and Rony D’Cunha traditionally inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp along with main sponsors of the event. The main sponsors for the event were Ronald Colaco and Family Dubai, Glen Dsouza and family (M/S Gopal’s of Soho) UK, Joseph Mathias and family (M/S Merit Freight Systems co Ltd UAE), Melwyn Rodrigues and family, London, Alwyn Dantis and family, Nottingham and Richard Lobo and family, London. However, Ronald Colaco and family were unable to attend due to prior committments.
This was followed by the first song of the nite by Stan Mendonca, who sang the title song of his third CD ‘Ashawadi’ which was well received by the audience with a huge applause.
Numbers like Attyaachaar, ‘Moladhik Dirvem’, Mog Mullyar Kitem’ ‘Yego Pisoyla’ ‘Nil Nil Gaganar’ and ‘Vishaal darya’ captured the hearts and minds of the audience.
Rony D'Cunha and Jasmine D’Cunha from Kuwait, Joseph Mathias from UAE, Ansuya Gomes from Bristol and Ancita D’Souza from Cardiff entertained the gathering by their melodies voices.
The audience thoroughly entertained and danced to the song ‘Diana Bai’ sung by Rony D’Cunha along with his wife Jasmine D’Cunha and their son Jeswin D’cunha
New and emerging talents Blossom Mathias, Melanie Rodrigues from London, Charlotte Barboza from Manchester and Sonal Mendonca from Sunderland succeeded in performing beyond the expectation of the audience.
A dance performed by Alwyn Dantis, Carol Dantis, Deepak Alvares, Jeevan Menezes Anitha D'souza and Cynthia Lobo from Nottingham kept up the sprit and enthusiasm of the gathering.
The joy and momentum of the gathering was further enhanced by the hilarious play and jokes by Pius Rasquinha, Stany Sequeira, Jeevan Menezes, John Fernandes, Deepak Alvares, Vincent D’Souza Anitha D'souza, Vincent D'souza and Flossy Fernandes from Nottingham, Vinod Barboza and Ronald Lobo from Manchester.
Manchester-based well known music group Rainbow Raagas provided thrilling music for the event. Well wishers and song sponsors were honoured for their support.
Keith Vaz was felicitated by Stan Mendonca, in reply Keith Vaz said it is great event and was happy to attend, he urge the Konkani people to more active and conduct more event like this in the United Kingdom. Keith Vaz also spoke about his diabetes awareness program and requested active participation.
Event of this magnitude was made possible by the support of people. Stan Mendonca along with his wife Jyothi Mendonca felicitated the guests, sponsors and the co-sponsors of the event. The felicitation event was presided over by Joseph Mathias, Walter Nandalike, Dayan D’Souza Mukamar and Rony D’Cunha. Addressing the gathering Walter Nandalike recognised the efforts put by the people on this event and emphasized the need to stay united as a Konkani community. D’Cunha thanked all the supporters and wished Stan a great success in the future events. Mathias, who was chairing the stage recalled his good olden days with Stan Mendonca as classmate and felicitated Stan and his wife Jyothi Mendonca for their great work in presenting this event.
Joseph Mathias released Stan’s 3rd Konakni Musical CD ‘Aashawadi’.
The vote of thanks was given by Stany Mendonca. He expressed his gratitude and thanked everyone who directly and indirectly supported in making the event a grand success. He gratefully expressed his special thanks to the members of SKA London, MUKA Nottingham and KCA UK Manchester, media partner Daijiworld.com, M/S BFC Exchange Ltd North London and M/S UAE Exchange UK for the support.
Sincere thanks goes to Melwyn Rodrigues and Helen Augustine London for their unconditional support.
Brazil Gomes from Bristol prepared the slide shows and captured the day's event in photos; Alwyn Dantis was in charge for the stage coordination, Janet D’Souza London, Rita Williams London and Ronald Lobo Manchester took charge of stage settings.
The closing hours of the event was dominated by some outstanding singing and performances by Stan and Team created a magical moments in the auditorium.
The event gets registered as the first ever Konkani Musical Nite in London, when Stan and Team concluded the event with the final song ‘Dev Borem Korum’.