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 Samba ‘s history:

Samba is an iconic Brazilian musical genre and dance that emerged at the end of the 19th century in the popular neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. The history of samba is closely linked to the history of Brazil, especially the history of Afro-Brazilian culture. The origins of samba can be traced back to Afro-Brazilian celebrations, including the feasts of Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea, and carnival celebrations. African slaves brought to Brazil brought with them their own musical traditions and dances, which merged with local rhythms and melodies to give rise to samba. At the beginning of the 20th century, samba began to become popular in popular areas of Rio de Janeiro, such as the Praça Onze area. The first samba schools were established in the 1920s and 1930s, in particular the famous Mangueira samba school. These samba schools played an important role in promoting Afro-Brazilian culture and samba, by organizing carnival parades and dance competitions. The samba has become a symbol of Brazilian identity and a key part of the country’s popular culture. Over the decades, samba has evolved to include new styles and influences, such as samba-reggae and samba-funk. Samba music is characterized by a syncopated, driving rhythm produced by instruments such as the cuica, pandeiro, surdo, and tamborim.

The samba dance has also become very popular, with rhythmic and sensual hip movements that reflect the history of Afro-Brazilian culture. Samba dancing is often associated with Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, where thousands of dancers and drummers gather each year to celebrate this holiday. Samba has also had a significant impact on Brazilian culture and politics. In the 1930s, the Brazilian government launched a campaign to promote samba and other Brazilian cultural expressions abroad, as part of a policy to enhance national identity. More recently, samba has been used as a tool to raise awareness of social issues such as poverty, discrimination and injustice.

In summary, samba is a form of Brazilian cultural expression rich in history and diversity. From its Afro-Brazilian origins to modern samba schools, samba continues to inspire and move generations of Brazilians and people around the world.

If you want to live a Brazilian cultural immersion with Samba as the theme, contact us! Because it is our specialty. For example, we have the immersion stay at the Rio carnival with the carnival parade in a samba school: https://allez-sambario.com/en/immersive-experiences/rio-carnival/

Birth of the first Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.

The first samba schools emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s and 1930s, in popular areas of the city such as Praça Onze. At the time, samba was considered street music, played at celebrations and neighborhood parties. Samba schools were born out of the need to structure and organize these celebrations. The first samba schools were community organizations created to promote Afro-Brazilian culture, using samba as a way to build community identity and pride.

The first samba school to be officially established was Deixa Falar, founded in 1928 by Ismael Silva, a famous samba composer. Deixa Falar was followed by other schools, such as Mangueira, Salgueiro and Portela. These schools began to organize carnival parades and dance competitions, in which they presented elaborate choreography and colorful costumes. Samba schools quickly grew in popularity, attracting community members from all social classes. Schools also began to play an important role in promoting Afro-Brazilian culture, using samba as a way to educate people about the history and traditions of Brazil’s black community. In the 1930s, the Brazilian government recognized the importance of samba and samba schools for the country’s national identity. The government began supporting samba schools by giving them grants and creating competitions to determine the best samba school in Rio de Janeiro. The first official competition was held in 1935, with Mangueira winning the title of best samba school of the year.

Samba schools have continued to evolve and expand over the years, incorporating new musical styles and influences into their choreography and costumes. Today, samba schools are an integral part of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, attracting millions of visitors each year to watch the spectacular parades and intoxicating performances. If you want to take part in the Rio Carnival, it’s possible! We will organize everything for you. Just get in touch: allez.sambario@gmail.com

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