Tekó Porã by Carlo Alexandre Teixeira (project conception)

Original to the Guarani peoples and shared by other indigenous peoples of the Americas, Tekó Porã can be translated as "Good Living" or a Beautiful Way of Living.

With this song, I wanted to invite listeners to hear what indigenous peoples have to say about living in harmony. Without exoticism or romanticism, my aim was to listen sincerely and engage in a dialogue with the values of these peoples.

Who knows?

Maybe we'll learn to respect the seas, rivers, mountains, plants and animals that share our planet.

In September 2019, several indigenous leaders and 30 indigenous representatives travelled from different parts of the world to take part in "Florishing Diversity: Learning from Indigenous Wisdom Traditions" at University College London. As the meeting drew to a close, the Maori representative positioned herself for her speech.

Addressing representatives of indigenous delegations, she began to repeat a chant. Collectively, they repeated the same phrase several times. Moments later everyone in the audience was singing in unison: "A Terra é Nossa" - The land is ours. This song-mantra began at that moment.

Moments later everyone in the audience was singing in unison:

“A Terra é Nossa”
The land is ours

It tuned me in with everything!

The Maori leader's speech tuned me in to everything! The depth of the representative's message in synergy with the current state of the world convinced me that these are the people we need to listen to in order to protect our planet. The Tekó Porã album is an artistic response to what these activists, shamans and indigenous people from all over the world have come to tell us. Perhaps these are the people who can teach us about sustainable and ecological systems for managing the land, water resources, biodiversity and our own behaviour: how to exist in balance with our home. Tekó Porã: for a harmonious existence!

The depth of the Maori representative’s message in synergy with the current state of the world, convinced me that it is these peoples we need to listen to in order to save our planet.

Tekó Porã and Guarnicê, are an artistic reflection of what these activists, shamans and indigenous representatives from all over the world came to tell us.

Perhaps these are the people who will be able to teach us about sustainable and ecological systems for managing land, water resources, biodiversity and our own behaviors: how to exist in balance with our home.

Tekó Porã
For a harmonious existence!

I was born in Rio de Janeiro, I started in capoeira when I was 16 years old. My artistic and creative training goes mainly through this art form. From there I learned music, film and theatre. Since 1996 I have been going back and forth from Brazil to the United Kingdom, and recently to Mexico, where I currently live. I worked in slums in Rio, theatre in London and productions in Asia and Scotland.

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