Africa-Press – Angola. Musician and composer Gabriel Tchiema said this Thursday that it is important to promote more traditional Angolan music, strengthening policies to protect and preserve Angolan cultural roots.
In statements to the press, regarding the declaration of tchianda as National Intangible Heritage, he highlighted that this fact increases the responsibility of those who make it, who must preserve its originality.
Defender of the most varied musical styles from the Eastern region of Angola, he assured that with its elevation, the tchianda musical genre has an open path towards its universalization.
Gabriel Tchiema warned of the dangers of changes that do not respect the essence of the musical genre in order to keep the matrix intact.
“It is important to follow the winds of development, even if it is through the introduction of aesthetic elements from other peoples, to add positive values to our musical styles, but never changes that call into question the originality of our traditional styles”, he stressed.
He recognized, on the other hand, that the new generation, in its irreverence, has sought to make traditional musical genres more appreciated and understood rhythmically, thus satisfying the most musically educated ears.
For the musician, contact with other sounds and cultures should not distort Angolan folklore, with emphasis on the Tchianda, which represents the main cultural expression of the Tchokwe people.
Gabriel Tchiema was born in the municipality of Dala, province of Lunda-Sul, in 1966, and began taking his first steps in music in the province of Cabinda, in the 90s, as co-founder and member of the band ASP, with which he won awards at festivals and musical competitions.
His solo career began in 1990, having released his first album in 1998, entitled “Yena nhi yami”, and the second in 2008, called “Azwlula”.
In 2013 he presented the album “Mingole”.
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