ector and the netos
de bandim
music and culture of the neighborhoods of Bissau
Ector Diogenes is the founder and president of the “Netos de Bandim”, a group of young artists and dancers in traditional dances, well known in Guinea Bissau and abroad. Ector tells of the beginnings, when its musicians and dancers were performing to animate the squares and streets of Bissau. For the “Netos”, music and dancing have always been something more than just entertainment: a hope for troubled youth in their neighborhood, Bandim fact, one of the poorest and most disadvantaged of the city.
Success came gradually, a carnival after another. With dances, written and composed music, the group has expanded, involving a growing number of young people, even in other districts. Therefore, the “Netos” have conquered before the public of the country and then internationally, winning several awards.
The fame brought funding and tours but the mission remains the same: to help young people and contribute to their education. The “Netos” invest, in fact, part of their proceeds for school projects in collaboration with various NGOs operating in the area.
“The idea - said Ector - is starting from the group to produce and disseminate our culture at national and international level”.
“We are the symbol of Guinendadi because we combine different ethnic groups and social classes - tells Ector - All together we share our lives and there is spirit of collaboration. We work together; there is a feeling of sharing. This is the true spirit of Guinendadi”.
The “Netos” de Bandim are a very large group that since 2000 - the year of the foundation - to date have made almost a dance work. They have a Facebook page followed by more than 4,000 people and several videos of their performances on Youtube. The dancers and the musicians know both dances and traditional music of their country than international ones. They move by their own means, vans purchased with the proceeds of the shows and wear traditional costumes.