The Bob Dylan of East Timor is what Ego Lemos is called. The singer / songwriter wraps a message in his lyrics and translates it into simple folk melodies. Although he lost his father, brother and sister during the decades-long Indonesian occupation, Lemos' lyrics do not resonate with bitterness. Beloved for his diplomatic and honest character, the human rights advocate calls on his debut album O
… Hele Le to call on his people to build up the country that has been independent since 2002 and to engage in sustainable water and landscape management. The first song on the album, Balibo, was used in the movie of the same name about five journalists who were murdered in East Timor in 1975. He was the first non-Australian to receive an APRA Screen Music Award for this ode to journalists in crisis areas. Working as an interpreter for an Australian permaculture trainer, he became an expert in the field himself. He founded a Permaculture Center and an agricultural network organization and he gives lectures and workshops all over the world. Then his guitar always comes along: because singing with a deep and powerful voice, straight from the heart, is what Lemos loves most. (SvdP)more
