Carnival in São Luís boasts wealth of musical styles
Known for its uniqueness and wealth of musical styles, the street carnival of São Luís, in Maranhão state, brings an ancestral touch to its parades, with African and indigenous culture in a wide range of forms and colors.
One of the main points on the traditional circuit is the Madre Deus neighborhood, the cradle of countless cultural manifestations in the state. Among them is the Fuzileiros da Fuzarca Carnival group. Founded in 1936 by poets, composers, and musicians, the oldest group in Maranhão parades in black and white and is one of the symbols of the capital’s street Carnival.
In addition to the Fuzileiros, Madre Deus also boasts traditional groups, characterized by the beauty of their costumes and the thunderous sound of the treme terra, the earth-shakers, as the drums are known.
The roll of the contratempo drums, in turn, is achieved with the palm of the hands setting the rhythm with force and precision. They measure 1.2 meters tall, with a diameter of 65 to 70 centimeters, and are played to the accompaniment of a large range of other traditional instruments, animating players and revelers alike.
