Comedienne Joana

Joaquina Joana Pereira was born on 10 March 1966 in Benaulim, Goa, India, to Francisco Boavida Fernandes and Severina Piedade Fernandes. She was born into a Goan Catholic family, with a homemaker mother. Joaquina grew up with five siblings: Mariano "Peter" (born 1961), Maria (born 1963), Margarita "Maggie" (born 1969), Lonita, and Convy.^[1] Pereira's family background included involvement in traditional theatrical practices in her community. Her father, Francisco balanced his occupation as a carpenter with a side involvement in local khell theater as an actor (khellgoddo), as well as street theater productions known as zomnivoile khells. During the preparation for these theatrical productions, rehearsals and practices frequently occurred within the family residence, allowing Pereira and her siblings to absorb the songs and dramatic elements by listening in.^[2]

Francisco often brought his children to witness the khell performances, where he later initiated Pereira, then 5 years old,^[3] into the art of acting, allowing her to take on roles as a child artist. Pereira and her siblings were known in their school community for their singing abilities, and they would take part in tiatrs, or local theatrical productions, as singers, being referred to as "Tembo's children". Pereira's involvement in the arts extended to the religious life of her community as well. During the Lenten season, she would sing the hymn "Veronica" at her local church as part of the "passion" observances.^[2]

Pereira began her career in the traditional Goan theater form known as khell tiatrs at a young age. At the age of 10, Lampião Agustin invited her to perform a solo singing role on stage in a khell tiatr production. When she performed, the song she sang had originated from a khell show that her father had previously produced. Pereira later became involved with two khell tiatr companies led by Patrick Dourado. She was initially part of Dourado's B group, performing in their production Tin Vantte (Three Divisions), while Dourado's A group was enacting the play Deu Borem Korum (May God do good). During this time, Pereira embarked on her maiden journey to the city of Bombay, now known as Mumbai, to engage in the Tin Vantte performances, choosing to travel via a steamboat for the expedition.^[2]

At one point, in Dourado's theatrical ensemble, the principal actress Lalita had to withdraw from the performance. Consequently, he made the decision to promote Pereira from the B group to the A group, entrusting her with the role vacated by Lalita in Deu Borem Korum. Pereira continued with the A group for the second round of Deu Borem Korum shows in Bombay. Prior to her work with Dourado, Pereira had also participated in tiatr productions at the village level. After her time with Dourado's companies, Pereira collaborated with a number of other popular Goan theatre practitioners, including Rosario Rodrigues, Milagres de Chandor, Pascoal Rodrigues, Premanand Lotlikar, Prince Jacob, Mario Menezes, Mariano Fernandes, and Tony Dias, among others.^[2]