The Impact of African Music on Brazilian Music
1. A brief history of the African slaves in Brazil:
The African slaves were brought to Brazil during the colonization of the country by the Portuguese. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a colony in Brazil, which they did in 1532. The colony was initially called “New Portugal”, but it later became known as “Brazil” after the Brazilianwood tree that was found there.
The Portuguese colonizers brought over four million African slaves to Brazil between the 16th and 19th centuries. The majority of these slaves came from Angola, Mozambique, and Congo. They were brought to work on the sugarcane plantations that were established in the northeastern region of Brazil.
The African slaves brought their own culture with them to Brazil, including their music, dance, and religion. The slave trade was abolished in Brazil in 1888, but the African influence on Brazilian culture remained. This can be seen in various aspects of Brazilian life, including music.
2. The influence of African music on Brazilian music:
The African slaves who were brought to Brazil during the colonization of the country by the Portuguese had a significant impact on Brazilian music. Their music was influenced by various African musical traditions, including those from Angola, Congo, and Mozambique.
The African musical traditions were mixed with the music of the Portuguese colonizers and the indigenous people of Brazil to create new genres of Brazilian music. Some of the most popular genres of Brazilian music that have been influenced by Africa include samba, capoeira, baiano, forro, frevo, Samba-carnaval, MPB, choro, forró, and frevo-samba.
3. The development of the Samba:
One of the most popular genres of Brazilian music that has been influenced by Africa is the Samba. The Samba is a legacy of the African slaves who were brought to Brazil during the colonization of the country by the Portuguese.
The Samba originated in the northeastern region of Brazil where most of the African slaves were brought to work on the sugarcane plantations. It is a combination of various African musical traditions, including those from Angola and Congo. The Samba was initially considered to be a lower-class form of music, but it later became popular among all social classes in Brazil.
4. The Samba in the present day:
The Samba is still very popular in Brazil today. It is often heard during Carnival, which is a major annual festival that takes place in Rio de Janeiro. During Carnival, people dress up in costumes and dance to traditional Samba tunes.
The Samba has also become popular outside of Brazil. It is often heard in Latin American countries and even in some parts of Europe and North America. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Brazilian music and culture around the world.
5. Conclusion:
In conclusion, African slaves who were brought to Brazil during colonization had a significant impact on Brazilian music. Their music was influenced by various African musical traditions, which were mixed with the music of Portuguese colonizers and indigenous people to create new genres of Brazilian music. The most popular genre of Brazilian music that has been influenced by Africa is the