During the last decade, João Nicolau and Mariana Ricardo’s project The Secret Museum of Mankind kept inexplicably appearing and disappearing from musical circles, as if it were rigidly adhering to the mystery surrounding the book which gave them their name and inspiration. Published in 1935, in New York, without any author, credits or date, The Secret Museum of Mankind consists of five volumes – each dedicated to one continent – totalling 564 pages with 994 photographs of peoples and cultures that illustrate the diversity of our species. This encyclopaedia gave rise to a record label in keep with the original name and missionary spirit, 60 years after its inception. João Nicolau became inspired to bring to the stage some of the gems of his record collection sharing them in the form of a free dialogue with still and moving images.

For its most ambitious presentation so far, The Secret Museum of Mankind reactivates all of its current messengers – João Lobo, Luís José Martins, Crista Alfaiate and Rita Sá – receiving us in the comfort of its visiting room and taking us on a timeless journey of eccentric colours and perfumes, from Uganda to New Caledonia, from Pernambuco to the Appalachian Mountains.