This Tuesday, the big day for the Mardi Gras celebrations, the island of São Vicente is oozing Carnaval through all of its pores. Parades began Friday morning, but today the celebrations will reach their pinnacle, with official groups beginning their parades at approximately 2:00 pm.

There will be a total of nine official and non-competing groups taking to the streets today, the final day of Carnaval celebrations. These groups will be joined by the smaller, more informal agglomerations that always lend added character to the São Vicente festivities.

Among the highlights in today’s program are the parades by Mandingas da Ribeira Bote, Sonhos Sem Limites, Acrobatas de Pedra Rolada, Jovens de Monte Sossego, Mandingas de Fonte Inês e Espia, Tucim Bedje and the official competition groups Cruzeiros do Norte and Flores do Mindelo.

In contrast with previous years, the 2008 Carnaval also stands out for the new, original songs penned by local composers, many of them relatively unknown, which have lent added color to the festivities. “In addition to Vlu and Constantino Cardoso, who are mainstays of the Mindelo Carnaval, this year we have various young people who are beginning to flower as composers, including high school and college teachers. This is the renovation of the Carnaval,” said one Mindelo resdent.

Source: A Semana