Despite a traumatic start to life, Timore Leste musician Ego Lemos has found beauty in music and community work, which he will share at the Cobargo Folk Festival.
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Following the Indonesian invasion in 1975, Mr Lemos was taken with his mother and relatives to the rural forests of Timor-Leste, where he survived with other families for three years without basic infrastructure.
During this time, Ego lost his three siblings to disease and malnutrition and his father and grandfather to the confusion of war.
When Timor-Leste gained independence after the bloody 1999 referendum foreign helpers flooded into the country. One, a permaculture trainer from Australia, would become a close friend and mentor to Mr Lemos.
Having taught himself English from dictionaries, he became his mentor’s translator, travelling the country to hold workshops, train farmers and instigating sustainable agriculture projects all over the country.
Mr Lemos founded the country’s first Permaculture NGO, Permatil and a highly successful sustainable agriculture network, HASATIL, which still flourish today.
His ability to poignantly express the collective trauma held by fellow Timorese in a positive, infectious and melodic manner has created a name for him as an international musician.
In September 2009, Mr Lemos’ debut album ‘O Hele Le’ was produced by Michael Hohnen and Craig Pilkington in Melbourne, Australia.
Mr Lemos felt the power of music as a young boy when his mother would play the harmonica in the middle of the night to soothe her soul after the death of her children, husband and father.
In November 2009, Mr Lemos won Best Original Song Composed for Screen at the 2009 APRA-AMCOS Screen Awards for ‘Balibo’.
His voice as a songwriter, permaculturalist, and community advocate has been charming audiences around the world for over 10 years with his inspiring enthusiasm for environmental and social revitalisation in Timor-Leste and abroad.
Due to his diplomatic manner, fairness and political eloquence, Mr Lemos’ voice travels far.
Ego Lemos is one of many performers at Cobargo Folk Festival, at Cobargo Showground from March 2-4.
Iconic Australian singer/songwriter Eric Bogle headlines the long list of Australian and international artists who will perform at the Cobargo Showgound
Bogle, famous around the world for such songs as The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and the Green Fields of France, last appeared at the Cobargo Festival over 20 years ago and will be making a very welcome return.
Other acts to perform include, from the US, Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band, Irish traditional band the Alan Kelly Gang, Manx singer Christine Collister who is accompanied by Australian guitar supremo Michael Fix, Neil Murray, another of Australia’s leading singer/songwriters, and returning after last years’ huge success at Cobargo the Northern Folk, a dynamic big band from Albury.
Add to that line-up local legends like the Swamp Stompers and it’s easy to see why ticket sales are up.
Festival organisers believe they could be close to capacity this year and are urging those who want camping space to book tickets online as soon as possible. Visit www.cobargofolkfestival.com for details and prices.
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