A dispute raised by AJA in August has not introduced any new elements that would alter the decision made by MMP and published in the Diário da República in July, according to a source from MMP. “The undeniable value of the work and legacy of Zeca Afonso is not being questioned; rather, it is about ensuring compliance with the applicable legal and technical procedures,” MMP stated.
The contestation filed by AJA, which has been viewed, expressed “surprise and concern” over the intended archiving, underscoring the importance of José Afonso’s work. AJA disclosed that there has been no response to the contestation.
MMP explained that the same conditions remain, preventing the conclusion of the process and leading to its expiration, mainly due to the physical access required to evaluate the items in question.
The process, initiated on September 2, 2020, involved classifying 30 phonograms by José Afonso, along with 18 digital copies of production masters, tapes recorded by the artist, and interview recordings.
This marked the first time a phonographic work was to be classified as a “set of national interest movable assets.”
In January, MMP revealed that the classification process expired in September 2021 because the deadline was not extended by the now-dissolved Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage.
Under cultural heritage law, the classification process must be completed within a year unless an extension is granted, which did not occur in this case, as per MMP.
Despite efforts supported by the National Sound Archive, led by anthropologist Pedro Félix, the inability to inspect all phonographic items and elapsed deadlines were central issues.
During this time, José Afonso’s family, holders of the intellectual property rights, announced the reissue of 11 of the artist’s albums, absent from the market for several years.
AJA suggested in its letter that in case production matrices cannot be verified, a high-resolution digital copy assessment should be performed, available from the publisher +5 for José Afonso’s work reissue.
Nuno Saraiva from +5 stated that the publisher is willing to provide the masters used for the reissue if the family consents.
The reissue plan for José Afonso’s discography includes “Galinhas do Mato” (1985), expected in 2026, and the recovery of singles and EPs from the 1950s and 1960s, “diligently working on remastering the entire work,” as reported by the editor.
The items to be classified include masters and recorded materials from albums produced between 1952 and 1985, such as “Balada de Outono” (1960) and “Cantigas do Maio” (1971), including “Grândola, Vila Morena.” These items are held by different owners, including the entity that acquired the catalog from the bankrupt Movieplay, and the musician’s family.
According to MMP, since the procedure has expired, it cannot be reopened. A new well-founded process must be initiated.
The decision to classify José Afonso’s work (1929-1987) followed a 2019 parliamentary resolution by the PCP, urging the Government to recognize it as of national interest to facilitate reissuance and dissemination.
AJA collected over 11,000 signatures in a public petition in support of the same decision, while José Afonso’s family, owning the musical rights, maintained collaboration with the Ministry of Culture since 2018 to advance the process.
