The popular music group ADIAFA was created by musicians José Emídio and Paulo Colaço, around 1998 and at its genesis is the dissemination and interpretation of the cante campaniço from Baixo-Alentejano, and the recovery of its traditional instrument – the viola campaniça. The group has had different formations, including musicians such as Paulo Colaço, José Emídio, António “Tói Marreco” Santos, Emídio Zarcos (now deceased), Manuel Bexiga, Luís Espinho, João Paulo Sousa, Joaquim Simões and António Caturra.
The current formation includes José Emídio, Paulo Colaço, Luís Espinho, João Paulo Sousa and António Caturra. After several shows throughout the deep Alentejo (and beyond) and to respond to countless requests, the group found itself faced with the imperative need to record on disk all the collection work carried out in the meantime, to which it added some of its own texts that they complemented the original way of understanding and interpreting Alentejo singing.
The album of the same name (author’s edition) was recorded in Cuba at the “Portal do Som” studio by technician Luis Beco, and presented to the public at the Casa da Cultura in Beja on April 9, 2002.
From this date on, the group was requested for shows throughout the country, having traveled to Switzerland and Canada where they performed for their respective emigrant communities.
ADIAFA was nominated for the 2003 SIC Golden Globes in the categories of best group and best song of the year (AS MENINAS DA RIBEIRA DO SADO – the group’s great success), won the MAIS MÚSICA award established by Mais Alentejo magazine, was a constant presence on television and radio programs, and the reason for numerous opinion articles in the written press in Portugal.
In 2004 ADIAFA recorded the second album entitled “Tá o Balho Armado”, in which they featured Rui Veloso, Paulo de Carvalho, Zé Salgueiro, Gaiteiros de Lisboa, Artur Fernandes (Danças Ocultas), Bardoada, Os Alentejanos, Beto Silva, Eduardo Ramos, Joaquim Simões, Augusto Graça, Pedro Mestre, Manuel Bento, Jorge Serafim, Bruno Ferreira and João Canto e Castro (Counter-Information), among others.
This work took special care in the collection carried out, in the choice of instruments and in the quality of the sound and respective production. The presentation show took place in Beja at the time of the RURALBEJA fair (October 2004) and included the collaboration of all the musicians who participated in the recording of the CD.
Meanwhile, on May 20, 2004, on the occasion of Beja City Day, the group was awarded the BEJA MUNICIPAL MEDAL OF MERIT – SILVER GRADE by decision of the Chamber and Municipal Assembly of its hometown.
The years 2005 and 2006 have consolidated the musical value of the group ADIAFA, which continues to perform wherever requested (around 45 shows in 2005).
ADIAFA is a safe value in the panorama of PORTUGUESE POPULAR MUSIC!
