The samba school parades in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to showcasing beauty and dance, serve to highlight important social issues through a historical and cultural lens.
Among the schools with this Afro-Brazilian cultural perspective are Mangueira, with the theme “À Flor da Terra – In the Rio of Blackness, Between Pains and Passions,” Beija Flor with the theme “Laíla of All Saints, Laíla of All Sambas,” and Portela with the theme “To Sing Is to Seek the Path That Leads to the Sun – A Tribute to Milton Nascimento.”
This is a series of interviews with carnival designers and samba personalities where topics such as Blackness, anti-racism, and Afro-Brazilian culture will be discussed.