Teach Kids About Brazil — Samba

LET’S DANCE SAMBA

SAMBA is a form of music and dance, originated in Africa — likely Angola — and emerged as a distinct sound in impoverished urban neighborhoods around Rio de Janeiro in the late-19th century. While Brazilians dance SAMBA as part of their massive CARNIVAL celebrations, SAMBA isn’t only music, it’s more than just a way of life; the word “samba,” goes one of the many legends of the term’s origins, comes from an Angolan language and means: “to pray.”

During CARNIVAL thousands of revelers march through Rio’s SAMBADROME, dancing with their SAMBA SCHOOLS and playing percussion instruments such as the CAIXA (similar to a snare drum), CUICA (a Brazilian “talking drum” that sounds like it’s laughing), PANDEIRO (a kind of tambourine), SURDO (a large bass drum that provides the motion for a samba procession), TAMBORIM (a small hand drum hit with a stick).

 

Rio’s Sambadrome

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