Brazil music-based cultural integration project to reach Angola

Some 300 children and young people have been benefited by the Oficina

Published on 16/12/2017 - 15:17 By Alana Gandra reports from Agência Brasil - Rio de Janeiro

Oficina de Percussão da Maré

Oficina de Percussão da MaréBeatriz Bergallo/Projeto Percussão na Maré

The Oficina Percussão da Maré, which promotes the cultural inclusion of children and young people through music lessons in the Maré favela, in northern Rio, is to be expanded throughout the country, and also overseas to Africa.

The project of percussionists Abel Duerê, Laudir de Oliveira, who passed away this year, and João Ayres started ten years ago, with 15 children from Angolan families living in Vila do Pinheiro, a neighborhood in the Maré complex. After one of the boys took part in the recording of Duerê's album Meu samba e teu samba (“My Samba and Your Samba,” in a literal English translation), Duerê said he simply could not stop.

Today, the project benefits children and young people aged 12 through 20. Classes are usually attended by 60 to 80 people. For ten years, the Oficina has served some 300 children. In exchange for being part of the project, participants must go to school, exhibit good behavior, and maintain good attendance at the percussion classes.

Oficina de Percussão da Maré

Today, the project benefits children and young people aged 12 through 20.Beatriz Bergallo/Projeto Percussão na Maré

Expansion

In 2018, Duerê plans to film his classes and distribute them across Brazil. “We're really excited because the boys and girls have made it so much fun to teach. They're attentive, dedicated, and incredibly talented. There are lots of potential musicians there.”

Since physically expanding the project to other cities has not been yet possible, Duerê's idea is to broadcast his classes online live every Tuesday starting in January—with daily reruns across Brazil and also in Angola.

Abel Duerê is also creating a group dubbed Os Cangengues da Maré (Kids from Maré, in Angolan Portuguese). “It's a professional group designed to follow artists touring in Rio.”

 Oficina de Percussão da Maré

Next year, the project is expended to include harmony studies in its lessons, with recorder and cavaquinho classes, in addition to percussion, to enrich students' performances.Beatriz Bergallo/Projeto Percussão da Maré

Citizenship

Guto Goffi, drummer of one of Brazil's biggest rock bands Barão Vermelho, joined the project as pedagogic coordinator five years ago. “We thought about devising a method for music through percussion, studying beat division, reading, and the technique for some percussion instruments. In Maré, instruments are the ones used by samba schools, and we work with popular Brazilian styles,” Goffi said.

Goffi also highlighted the key role the project plays in benefit of the local community. “That's what Rio de Janeiro and Brazil need to grow as a city and country. To clear up the muddle the country finds itself in, Brazil needs education and culture more than ever.”

Next year, the project is expended to include harmony studies in its lessons, with recorder and cavaquinho classes, in addition to percussion, to enrich students' performances. The new format is slated to start on January 9.


Translated by Fabrício Ferreira


Fonte: Brazil music-based cultural integration project to reach Angola

Edition: Graça Adjuto / Nira Foster

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