The Diplomat in Spain

The official commemorations of the 50th anniversary of 25 April 1974 (when the Carnation Revolution took place) have as their central event the show Lá no Xepangara – A Cultura Africana em José Afonso. Lá no Xepangara is the title of one of the songs from Coro dos Tribunais, an album released in December 1974. It celebrates the decisive role of art and culture in the Portuguese revolution. At the Museo del Traje de Madrid (Av. Juan de Herrera, 2), Thursday 25 April at 7 p.m. Free admission.

In Barcelona, the anniversary will be celebrated with the colloquium 50 years of Democracy, at the Ateneu Barcelonès ( Carrer de la Canuda, 6), with the writer Gabriel Magalhães and a musical show with songs by Zeca Afonso. There will also be a virtual exhibition of posters from 25 April. In the Sala Oriel Bohigas, at 18.30.

At the Camões Institute in Vigo (Casa Arines Praça Tenente, Praza de Almeida, s/n), the exhibition 50 years of April – Poetry and Politics opens , with original political posters of the first elections held after 25 April and a brief documentation of the main political parties. In addition, this Institute is hosting three film sessions on 25 April and the Democratic Transitions throughout the month of April until 30 April. Admission is free.

On 12 April, the Portuguese Embassy and the Community of Madrid inaugurated the exhibition Mutations: Conexiones excepcionales, featuring six Portuguese and Spanish artists. Curated by Sérgio Fazenda Rodrigues and Virginia Torrente.

On 23 April, the Portuguese Embassy will join the Porto Pianofest, which will take place at the Teatro Real in Madrid, the theme of which will be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of 25 April with music alluding to the date. Among others, Mariel Mayz ‘s piano arrangements of Grândola Vila Morena and other iconic songs of the revolution will be performed. With Nuno Marques and Mariel Mayz, and the special participation of pianist Luis Fernando Pérez.

Also, between 24 April and 3 May, the Filmoteca de Galicia presents the cycle 50 años del 25 de abril, with documentaries filmed in the period after the Revolution.

Concéntrico, the International Architecture and Design Festival of Logroño opens its 10th edition on 25 April and presents the winning projects of the competitions La calle a 10 años and Celebrar la ciudad, in collaboration with the Academia de Oporto and ArtWorks.

The Filmoteca Española will inaugurate a cycle dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution on 25 April, entitled The Carnation Constellation: Revolutionary Imaginaries in Portugal, which will continue throughout the month of May. The opening will be attended by filmmaker José Filipe Costa, who will present the film Prazer, Camaradas!

The Cineteca de Madrid joins Matadero Madrid’ s Dance Day celebrations with a programme that includes Fogo-Fátuo, by João Pedro Rodrigues, to be screened on 25 May at 19:00.

The production company Zález Artist Collect presents a tribute to Zeca Afonso at the Marcelino Camacho Auditorium in Madrid, with the fado singer Laureana and the artists Luis Mendo and Bernardo Fuster. On 25 April, at 20:00.

And finally, on 26 April, a poetry recital will be held at the Portuguese Language Centre of the University of Valencia by the poet and translator Sandra Santos.