The Brazilian president praises Rio de Janeiro carnival’s cultural and economic impact.
On Sunday night, the samba school Academicos de Niteroi made its debut at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, drawing attention with its tribute to Brazilian President Lula da Silva.
The samba school sang and danced the story of the progressive leader, from his origins in Brazil’s impoverished Northeast and his role as a union leader to his election as president.
“The son of the poor becomes a doctor, while there is food on the worker’s table,” sang thousands of people alluding to the social programs that Lula da Silva has promoted since his first presidency which began in January 2003.
In addition to marking the first time a sitting president has been honored at the Sambadrome, the performance generated controversy because it took place just eight months before elections in which Lula will seek a fourth term.
The text reads, “The Academicos de Niteroi samba school delivered a moving parade, sensitively and creatively recalling historical events in Brazilian politics. Although TV Globo gave Academicos a brief broadcast, we’re here to show you the parade.”
Academicos de Niteroi Reflects a Political Choice
The debut parade by the samba school began stirring controversy even before Carnival officially began. Concerned about its waning popularity, the conservative opposition described the tribute to Lula da Silva as premature campaign propaganda by a group that receives public funding.
It also sought to have Brazil’s courts prohibit Academicos de Niteroi’s presentation but was unsuccessful. The Electoral Court, however, warned that the tribute could prompt a future investigation.
As a result, both the Lula administration and the Workers’ Party (PT) urged their supporters to exercise caution to avoid harming the presidential campaign.
Lula asked ministers and senior officials to refrain from participating in the tribute, and first lady Rosangela Lula da Silva decided not to ride on one of Academicos de Niteroi’s floats through the Sambadrome.
The text reads, “Bolsonaro, arrested with an ankle monitor, at the Academicos de Niteroi samba school. How exquisite!”
Traditional Samba Schools Take the Stage
On Sunday night, attendees also witnessed the luxury of costumes and floats and the refined technique of Portela, Mangueira and Imperatriz Leopoldinense, the three schools with the most titles in the history of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.
In the second parade of the night, Imperatriz Leopoldinense recounted the life of singer and composer Ney Matogrosso, one of the leading figures of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), with multiple references to his best-known songs and musical collaborators.
The singer, who rode on one of the floats, was presented as a chameleon-like figure who broke gender standards and behavioral norms through his consistently transgressive art. He was also portrayed as a voice of resistance to censorship.
Portela staged the story of African prince Custodio Joaquim de Almeida, who came from Benin and went into exile in southern Brazil in the early 20th century, where he became an important defender and spiritual guide of Afro-Brazilian religions.
The school from the Madureira neighborhood delighted the audience with an impeccable front commission, including one member who literally flew over the Sambadrome with the help of a drone.
Portela, however, lost points because, due to technical problems, its final float — carrying members of the “old guard,” its longest-standing participants — entered late and left a visible gap in the parade in front of the first group of judges.
Mangueira, the last samba school to perform, dedicated its parade to Mestre Sacaca, an Afro-Indigenous shaman known for his role as a spiritual guide and healer in a remote region of the Amazon.
The text reads, “Watch the moment when a man flies a drone at the Portela parade’s opening ceremony.”
Carnival as Cultural and Economic Force
On Monday, President Lula da Silva praised the virtues of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival as a cultural expression and a driver of the country’s economic growth.
Referring to the majestic spectacles held at Rio de Janeiro’s Marques de Sapucai Sambadrome, Lula said the samba school parades project a positive image of Brazil internationally.
“Rio is a global reference for Carnival and tourism. The Marques de Sapucai shows the planet the strength of our samba schools, the creativity of our people and Brazil’s ability to transform culture into development, jobs and income,” he said.
Lula attended the parade in the Rio de Janeiro City Hall box at the Sambadrome, accompanied by his wife, several ministers and politicians.
The parades of the 12 samba schools in Rio de Janeiro’s top-tier Special Group, which continue on Monday and Tuesday nights, are the main attraction of Brazil’s Carnival and are considered the largest open-air show in the world.
Over the weekend, Lula toured the three major hubs of Brazilian Carnival: Recife, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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