Samba

Samba is a lively and important music style that started in Brazil, especially in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Bahia and later grew in Rio de Janeiro. It comes from West African music traditions and has become one of Brazil's most famous cultural symbols. The word "samba" first meant a popular dance but later came to describe a music style, with its modern form shaping up in the late 1920s in the Estácio neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

Over time, samba has grown into many different types, including bossa nova, pagode, and samba de enredo. It is usually played with percussion instruments like the pandeiro, surdo, and tamborim, often with guitar music. Samba de Roda was named by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005, showing how important it is to Brazilian culture.

Etymology and definition

"Batuque" (1835), a painting by Johann Moritz Rugendas

The word "samba" has many possible origins, and not all experts agree. It was first mentioned in 1830 in a newspaper in Pernambuco, talking about dances and fun. Another mention was in 1838 in a Recife newspaper, describing a celebration popular among Black people.

Over time, "samba" came to mean many kinds of dances and music from African traditions in Brazil. By the late 1800s, it described dances performed by enslaved Africans, with different styles in each region. In the early 1900s, "samba" began to mean specific kinds of songs and dances, like the famous 1916 song "Pelo Telefone", which helped shape modern samba.

Roots

Samba comes from rural traditions across Brazil. In these areas, samba was linked to dances, music, and community gatherings. Different regions created their own styles, such as the samba de roda — a circle dance from Bahia — and other forms like coco, lundu, and jongo. These dances had special steps and rhythms passed down over time.

Hilário Jovino Ferreira founded the first carnival rancho in Rio.

Early on, samba faced challenges because some people in Brazil did not approve of it. Despite this, samba survived and grew. It is now a beloved part of Brazilian culture and a big part of Carnival celebrations.

Main article: Brazilian Carnival

The urban Carioca samba

The urban Carioca samba started in Rio de Janeiro. It was shaped by African culture and community traditions. In the late 1800s, many African-Brazilian people moved to Rio from Bahia after slavery ended. These communities, called "Pequena Africa" or "Little Africa," shared their customs, music, and religion.

One important person was Tia Ciata. Her home was a place where samba musicians and artists gathered. There, samba began to become its own special kind of music. The song "Pelo Telefone" became very popular in 1917. This helped samba become a well-known type of song. Over time, new styles of samba developed, like samba do Estácio in the 1920s. This style had a faster beat and new rhythms. It also led to the creation of samba schools that organized carnival parades.

Donga recorded "Pelo Telefone", considered the founding landmark of samba.

Main article: Samba do Estácio

In the 1930s, radios helped spread samba all over Brazil. People could hear samba performances on the radio, and new musicians became famous. Samba became a symbol of Brazilian culture and national identity, especially when the Vargas government promoted it as part of the country's heritage.

Further information: Samba and the expansion of the Brazilian music industry

As samba changed, new types like samba-canção, samba-choro, and samba-enredo appeared. These styles had different rhythms, speeds, and topics. They mixed old traditions with new trends. Samba kept changing, adding ideas from other kinds of music while staying connected to its Brazilian roots.