The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, today lamented the death of musician António Chainho, whom he described as 'a leading figure in the Portuguese guitar and fado' and 'an inspiring symbol for generations of instrumentalists'.
President of the Republic recalls 'an inspiring symbol for generations of instrumentalists'
Tuesday, 27 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Fado is a traditional Portuguese music genre characterized by melancholic singing and themes of longing and fate, with distinct Lisbon and Coimbra styles; it was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. For expats, fado is both a living cultural tradition and a common tourist experience — attending a small fado house in Lisbon or Coimbra offers insight into Portuguese history, language and social life.
