FMI KAPA: A New Creole Vision for José Mário Branco’s Legacy
The iconic legacy of the late José Mário Branco is finding a new, urgent voice this Sunday as “FMI KAPA” premieres at the Teatro Municipal Rivoli in Porto. A powerful fusion of theater and music, the performance serves as the closing highlight of the International Iberian Expression Theatre Festival (FITEI).
A Dialogue Across Generations
Directed by João Branco—son of the legendary Portuguese singer-songwriter—and featuring musical direction by the acclaimed artist Xullaji, “FMI KAPA” reimagines Branco’s seminal 1982 work “FMI.” Performed in Creole with Portuguese subtitles, the production moves beyond simple adaptation, acting instead as a “manifesto” for modern-day Portugal.
“‘FMI KAPA’ intersects theater, music, and performance to give form to the urgent questions of our time: identity, social inequality, and coloniality,” the production synopsis states. It draws heavily from Afro-diasporic experiences, particularly those of the Cape Verdean and Guinean communities living on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Reclaiming the Narrative of April 25
The show marks the conclusion of Saaraci Coletivo Teatral’s trilogy, “25 de Abril Crioulo” (Creole April 25). The project was born from a desire to broaden the history of the Carnation Revolution, which João Branco argues has often been told through a single, Eurocentric lens.
“The approaches taken ended up leaving out other experiences and narratives that are also important, namely from the Cape Verdean community that lived in Portugal—and still does,” Branco explained in an interview with Lusa. “We cannot say this is exactly an optimistic show. I would like people to leave the way they did when they saw ‘FMI’—pushed into reflection.”
The Ghost in the Room
While music takes center stage, the director insists this is no ordinary concert. The presence of José Mário Branco, who passed away in 2019, is felt throughout the performance. “I say this show has seven performers: the six on stage, and Zé Mário himself,” says João Branco. “He enters, he comments, he is heard, and he enters into dialogue.”
The production also serves as a personal tribute, featuring the artist’s grandson, Afonso Branco, on stage. The collaboration with Xullaji further honors the elder Branco’s history; the two shared a deep artistic bond and mutual respect for years.
Supported by the Directorate-General for the Arts and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, “FMI KAPA” features a cast including Ghoya, Marinho Pina, Mynda Guevara, and Rute Ferreira, with video contributions by filmmaker Basil da Cunha. Following its Porto premiere, the production is slated for a wider tour in 2027.
“We want people to leave this show and think… ‘and now, what am I going to do with this?'” Branco concludes. “In fact, it’s the very question asked in the original FMI: ‘What am I doing here?'”
Image: Pexels – Camilo Muñoz
