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{{Short description|Indian stage actor and comedian (1922–1990)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Xempea Minguel
| image = Portrait of Xempea Minguel.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Morais during his youth
| birth_name = Miguel Morais
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|2|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Quepem taluka#Settlements|Assolda]], [[Goa]], [[Portuguese India]], [[Portuguese Empire]]
| death_place = [[Benaulim]], Goa, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|3|24|1922|2|7|df=y}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian|director|teacher}}
| years_active = ~1960s
| spouse = Lourdes Pereira
| children = 3
| relatives = [[Antonio Moraes]] (brother)
}}

'''Miguel Morais''' (7 February 1922 – 24 March 1990), known professionally as '''Xempea Minguel''',{{efn|literally meaning "Minguel with a tail".}} was an early 20th-century Indian stage actor, comedian, director, and [[drama teacher]] known for his work in ''fells'' or ''[[Tiatr#Khell tiatr|khells]]'' (traditional [[Goan]] [[street play]]s).

==Early life==
Miguel Morais was born on 7 February 1922 in the village of [[Quepem taluka#Settlements|Assolda]], which was located in the region of [[Goa]] during the period of [[Portuguese India|Portuguese colonial rule]]. At the time, Goa was part of the [[Portuguese Empire]], though it is now situated within the modern nation of India.<ref name=":1" /> Morais was born into a [[Goan Catholic]] family, the third of four sons: Tiburcio (born 1918), Zpeferino (born 1916), and [[Antonio Moraes|Antonio]] (born 1924). They were born to [[day laborer]]s Paulo Morais and Conceiçaō Maria Fernandes, who hailed from [[Quepem taluka#Settlements|Xeldem]], Goa.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=30 June 2006 |title=Registo De Nascimento |url=https://goaonline.gov.in/Appln/UIL/BirthDeathCertificate_af?__Key=&_Mode=B&__cscKey= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810131321/https://goaonline.gov.in/HomePage |archive-date=10 August 2023 |access-date=10 August 2023 |website=Goa Online}}</ref>

As Morais matured, his family made the decision to move to the village of [[Benaulim]] around the year 1934.<ref name=":1" /> When Morais' younger brother Antonio was still a child, their father Paulo died. During their childhood, as all four brothers were still young, their mother Conceição found it challenging to support the family alone. Consequently, as Morais and his siblings grew older, their mother arranged for them to [[Domestic worker|work in other households]] to contribute to the family's income.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2004 |language=gom |title=A. Moraes - Songitachea mollavelem zhogzhogtem noketr |work=[[Vauraddeancho Ixtt]] |pages=5}}</ref>

==Career==
Biographical details about the [[Goan]] theater performer Morais are scarce. There is limited publicly available information regarding his career, with most known facts coming from published [[literary source]]s. According to the 2019 book ''Tiatr 125th Commemorative Volume'', Fausto V. Da Costa, a fellow writer states that, Morais was known as a popular ''khellgoddo'' - a term used to describe a stage actor in traditional Goan [[street theater]] productions. The text indicates that Morais exclusively performed in ''fells'' - a type of 19th century Goan street play<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mazarello |first=Wilson |title=Konkani Khell Tiatr |date=10 March 2018 |publisher=[[Dalgado Konknni Akademi]] |location=Panaji, Goa |pages=xi, 1, 6, 53, 55, 192}}</ref> - that were staged by his younger sibling, [[Antonio Moraes]], who was considered a pioneering figure in the development of the modernized Goan theatrical form known as ''[[Tiatr#Khell tiatr|khell tiatr]]''. While Antonio was regarded as the ''[[mistri|mestri]]'' (teacher) of these ''khells'' (an alternate name for ''fells'', a term known in the [[Salcete]] region), the specific dramatic works in which Morais appeared were referred to as "Xempea Minglilo Fell". Beyond these limited biographical details documented in the commemorative volume, little additional information about Morais's theatrical career and wider contributions can be conclusively stated based on available sources.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Da Costa |first=Fausto V. |title=TIATR 125th Anniversary Commemorative Volume |publisher=[[Tiatr Academy of Goa]] |year=2019 |location=[[Panaji, Goa]] |pages=199–200}}</ref>

In the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] theater sphere, Morais was a known figure among a group of popular performers referred to as ''khellam mistri'' or ''mestri'', who were recognized for their involvement in instructing and showcasing a traditional performance style known as ''zomnivhele khell'', as documented by journalists Gary Azavedo and [[Pio Esteves]] in ''[[The Times of India]]''. Other popular artists in this group included [[Khadda Minguel]], Anton Marie, [[Santiago Pereira]], [[Shalibai]], Don Toclo, Piedade Fernandes, and [[Rosario Rodrigues]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-14 |title=For 'zomnivhele khell', all the ground's a stage |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/for-zomnivhele-khell-all-the-grounds-a-stage/articleshow/46238102.cms |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> As per the accounts of [[Bombay]]-based [[archivist]] Edward "Eddie" Verdes, it is stated that, Morais and his contemporary ''khell'' artist Buk Buko, originating from the town of [[Chinchinim]], were celebrated for their humorous acting performances that brought joy and laughter to audiences. Morais primarily appeared in ''khell'' productions that were staged around his home village of [[Benaulim]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verdes |first=Edward |date=28 January 2008 |title=Zomni khell during the Carnival |url=http://www.goa-world.com/goa/index.html |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Goa World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210100925/http://www.goa-world.com/goa/index.html |archive-date=2008-02-10 }}</ref> Konkani singer [[Osvi Viegas]], a figure within the [[Tiatr|Konkani theater]] community, has provided additional insights about Morais and his contemporaries. In writings published in the ''Gulab'' magazine, Viegas identified Morais as one of the prominent ''khell'' artists of the 1960s, alongside figures like Anton Marie, Santiago Pereira, Menino Afonso, Marian Silva, Diniz Sequeira, A. Moraes, [[Patrick Dourado]], Khell Jose, Buk Buko, Don Toclo, Shalibai, Khadda Minguel, Socorro Piedade Fernandes, and Magnier Rod. Viegas observed that the theatrical productions created by this ensemble of performers were popular for their enlightening content, especially receiving acclaim for the engaging and quality of their opening and featured songs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Viegas |first=Osvi |date=30 May 2021 |title=Tiatrachim Kantaram Ani Songit |url=https://issuu.com/fngoa/docs/gulab_may_2021 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Gulab |language=gom |archive-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429133748/https://issuu.com/fngoa/docs/gulab_may_2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Morais was a well-known [[Goan]] performer associated with the ''[[Tiatr#Khell tiatr|khell tiatr]]'' tradition, a form of [[Konkani language|Konkani]] folk theater. ''Khell tiatrs'' were also interchangeably referred to as "[[folk play]]s" in the region. Morais was regarded as a role model and influential figure for the new generation of ''khell tiatr'' artists and folk play performers in [[Goa]]. According to a [[postgraduate study]] on English published material, the millennial and second-generation ''khell'' artist Malita Fernandes identified Morais as one of her favorite writers and directors of Konkani folk plays.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Braganza e Fernandes |first=Malita |date=27 October 2019 |title=Dying Art of Folk Plays (Zomnivhele Khell) |url=https://www.academia.edu/50611977 |journal=Via Parvatibai Chowgule College |pages=5 |via=[[Academia.edu]]}}</ref> In the 2018 book ''Konkani Khell Tiatr'' by historian [[Wilson Mazarello]], Konkani playwright [[Tomazinho Cardozo]] characterized Morais as being among the popular ''khellam mestris'' or Goan [[street play]] [[drama teacher|teachers]] of the past. Mazarello's work further stated that Morais was included in the list of prominent actors in ''khells'', who were known as ''khellgodde'' in the local Konkani language. Morais occupied a significant position and wielded an influence within the traditional Konkani folk theater tradition of ''khell tiatrs'' in [[Goa]].<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==
Morais's brother [[Antonio Moraes|Antonio]] was a pioneering figure in the ''[[Tiatr#Khell tiatr|khell tiatr]]'' tradition, a form of [[Konkani language|Konkani]] [[street theater]]. Antonio was credited as one of three key individuals who helped bring ''zomnivhele khells'' (street plays) to the professional stage, drawing inspiration from the established Konkani ''[[tiatr]]'' format. Tiburcio, the elder brother of Morais, started his professional life as a [[toddy tapper]] before shifting to a new occupation as a [[seafarer]].<ref name=":0" /> Morais and Antonio shared a close fraternal bond, as demonstrated by Morais exclusively participating in his brother's ''fells'' or ''khells''. Antonio, the playwright, ensured that whenever Morais appeared in his theatrical productions, it was promoted under Morais's name.<ref name=":1" />

Morais was married to Lourdes (later known as Lurdinha) Pereira, a [[homemaker]] from the [[Sanguem]] region. Together they had three children - two sons, Joaquim (born 1959) and Inácio (born 1958), as well as a daughter named Crucifina (born 1962). Morais' extended family, including his nephews, were also actively involved in the Konkani theater scene. Playwright R. Moraes and former playwright and theatre actor Teles Moraes, along with [[trumpeter]] Seby Moraes, are nephews of Morais through his brothers Tiburcio and Antonio, respectively.<ref name=":0" /> Although Morais was born in Assolda, he listed Paroda, [[Quepem]] as his birthplace on his children's birth certificates.<ref name=":3" /> He died at his residence in Pulvaddo, [[Benaulim]] on 24 March 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 1991 |title=Directorate of planning, statistics and evaluation and office of the chief registrar of births and deaths |url=https://rbd.goa.gov.in/Certificate/DeathCertificate.aspx#aSearch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123154022/https://rbd.goa.gov.in/ErrorPage/500.htm?aspxerrorpath=/Certificate/DeathCertificate.aspx#aSearch |archive-date=23 January 2024 |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=Goa Online}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minguel, Xempea}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Tiatrists]]
[[Category:Actors from South Goa district]]

Xempea Minguel - Revision history

CryptoCurrencydon at 07:04, 21 April 2026