bethânia 4

In the movie Fevereiros (2017)... 

samba lovers will want to write down the interviewees’ and the characters’ names to learn more about the subject. The movie touches on subjects that intertwine, such as religious tolerance and the samba emergence, starting from Estação Primeira de Mangueira’s history that has been born in a Candomblé house. 

The Rio Carnival celebration dates back to the 1650s. 

During that time, elaborate feasts were organized to give honor to the Greek wine gods. The Romans used to worship Bacchus, the god of the grape-harvest. The festival ‘Entrudo’ was introduced by the Portuguese and this inspired the birth of the Carnival in Brazil. 

In 1840, the very first Rio masquerade took place, and polka and waltz took center stage. Africans subsequently influenced the Carnival with the introduction of Samba music in 1917, which is now considered a traditional Brazilian form.

Luis Antonio Simas, a historian, tells us about the 'Ala das Baianas' [Vleugel/stoet van mensen uit Bahia]' importance in Rio Samba School parades, and about the 'Bond of Sociability [gezelligheid]' – the idea that without the community it’s not possible to survive. 

The movie also talks about João de Baiana, popular composer, singer, samba dancer and instrumentalist, considered to be the introducer of the tambourine in samba.

[bron]