The São Tomé duo Calema kicked off the proceedings at Rock in Rio's Sunset Stage last Sunday with a show that blended romantic songs and danceable rhythms. Brothers Antônio and Fradique Mendes Ferreira, who currently live in Portugal, took the stage wearing golden and purple tunics, being greeted enthusiastically by the audience, which included a couple adorned with accessories from São Tomé and Príncipe.
The performance started two minutes late, opening with the romantic song "Vai," which got the crowd moving to the sound of percussion. The band also features guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums, and four dancers joined the brothers, reinforcing the Afro-Lusophone ball atmosphere in the space at Curicica.
During the show, the rain returned persistently, but the audience kept growing throughout the performance. By the time Antônio and Fradique called on pagode singer Dilsinho to join them for the song "Leva tudo," the crowd in front of the stage was even larger, showing the excitement with the duo's performance.
