DILI, 28 May 2026 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos-Horta, today awarded the Insignia of the Order of Timor-Leste to António Mendes Ferreira and Fradique Mendes Ferreira, the internationally renowned artist duo Calema, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the promotion of the Portuguese language and Lusophone culture. The ceremony was held at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
Duo Calema was awarded under the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 59/2026, which acknowledges Calema’s artistic journey in bringing together the peoples and youth of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), thereby strengthening the bonds of friendship and cultural among member states.
“Calema has become a contemporary symbol of Lusophone culture, with their music carrying messages of unity, hope, and the valorisation of cultural identities. By honoring Calema, we honor the power of music and the Portuguese language to unite continents, generations, and cultures. Their work has had a particularly positive impact in Timor-Leste, especially among Timorese youth, fostering a sense of belonging to the Portuguese-speaking community. Their contribution to strengthening cultural ties with other Lusophone peoples and to promoting the values of fraternity, cultural diversity, and friendship among peoples makes these illustrious citizens deserving of due recognition and appreciation from the Timorese State,” said President Ramos-Horta.
Calema first visited Timor-Leste in 2024, performing for thousands of Timorese during the 2024 TasiFestival. Duo Calema returns to Timor-Leste for their second performance at the 2026 TasiFestival. As part of their visit, Calema met with President Ramos-Horta and other government officials, engaged with local Timorese artists, and participated in a special cultural program in Dili, TasiFestival, where they performed for an enthusiastic crowd of Timorese fans. The visit further cemented the cultural bridge between Timor-Leste and the broader Lusophone world.
TasiFestival is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year in Timor-Leste and will take place in Tasitolu, Dili, on May 29–30, 2026. The 2025 edition was hugely successful, attracting more than 50,000 attendees, and this year’s event once again promises an unforgettable experience, combining music, culture, sustainability, and innovation. Headliners for the 2026 edition include world-renowned Indonesian singer Iwan Fals, duo Calema from São Tomé and Príncipe, Angolan singer Rui Orlando, and winner of the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, Guy Sebastian. Several local musical artists and DJs will also perform, and Portuguese waste transformation artist Bordalo II will lead the sustainable art workshop component of the festival.
Born in São Tomé and Príncipe, Calema is the dynamic duo of brothers Fradique and António Mendes Ferreira.
The duo Calema has become one of contemporary Lusophone music’s most defining forces.
Inspired by the African coast’s swell that gave them their name, Calema crafts a unique sound blending African rhythms, pop, and Latin music, rising from YouTube covers and TV talent shows to international phenomenon.
As composers, authors, and performers, they have delivered enduring hits like “A Nossa Vez,” “Te Amo,” “Amar pela Metade,” and “Leva Tudo,” amassing over 50 million monthly YouTube views and securing the 1st spot worldwide in the “Portuguese Dance” category in 2025.
Their historic milestones include selling out Lisbon’s MEO Arena for two nights, becoming the first Lusophone duo to perform at Paris’ Accor Arena (where they returned in 2026), earning a Diamond Disc in France for “Te Amo” (2024) and in June 2025, making history as the first Lusophone artists to sell out Estádio da Luz in their own name.
With a deep connection to the Lusophone diaspora across Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Angola, Mozambique, and Asia, and now expanding to Canada and the United States, Calema continues to elevate Portuguese-language music to new heights while remaining fiercely rooted in the heritage and energy that define them.
TATOLI
