Samba-Enredo 2025 - À Flor da Terra – No Rio da Negritude Entre Dores e Paixões

The samba-enredo 'À Flor da Terra – No Rio da Negritude Entre Dores e Paixões,' by Estação Primeira de Mangueira for Rio Carnaval 2025, is a powerful narrative that weaves together Afro-Brazilian history and culture, highlighting the resistance and resilience of Black people. The lyrics evoke the strength of Matamba, a historical and spiritual figure symbolizing the leadership and endurance of Black women. Mangueira, portrayed as the 'matriarch of passions, serves as the voice of the ghetto, celebrating the pride of the favela and the rich Bantu cultural heritage that thrives in Rio de Janeiro’s alleyways.

The music embarks on a historical journey, referencing Luanda and Benguela, Angolan cities that embody the pain and resistance of enslaved Africans. The lyrics underscore Quilombola resistance and the fortitude of the pretos novos from Angola, who, despite adversity, forged a vibrant and influential cultural identity in Brazil. Mangueira is depicted as a sturdy trunk, a flower of the earth that persists and blossoms despite the obstacles imposed by society.

The samba also tackles cultural appropriation and the resilience of Black culture. The lyrics criticize the bourgeoisie, which historically censored and marginalized ghetto culture but now seeks to emulate and claim its cultural expressions. The music celebrates the creativity and perseverance of Black people, who have reshaped the city with their music, dance, and spirituality, reborn as a 'Zambi nation' dressed in green and pink.

Finally, the samba-enredo highlights the spirituality and ancestral power that guide and protect the Black community. The lyrics reference Afro-Brazilian religious practices, such as macumba and jongo, and invoke the protection of the inquices, deities of Candomblé. The composition stands as a tribute to the endurance and survival of Black people, who, in spite of all hardships, continue to flourish and enrich Brazilian culture with their strength and passion.