South American music and culture magazine

Carnival season is almost here! Of course the most famous carnival is Rio’s, but there are many more. In Brazil alone there are large carnival parties in Salvador, Recife, Paraty and Ouro Preto to name just a few. Quite surprising though is the fact that the second biggest carnival in South America belongs to Barranquilla on the Atlantic coast of Colombia. Then there’s the very traditional carnivals of Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay, the last of which holds claim to being the longest carnival of all! Continue Reading

Carnival is the biggest festival in Brazil, as well as being hugely popular in other South American countries such as Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. Traditionally taking place in the lead-up to Easter each country has its own variations on it’s traditions, dates and purpose. Here is the Sounds and Colours guide to Carnival, a guide which will give you all the important information for carnival as well as a few ideas for how best to enjoy the festival. Continue Reading

Carnival in the mining town of Oruro has become Bolivia’s most celebrated festival, usurping similar events in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Tarija. It’s easy to see the allure. Carnaval de Oruro is a celebration by Bolivia’s Uru people with a strong religious and spiritual connection, manifesting itself in the shape of the festival’s two icons; Pachamama (Mother Earth in spirit, though with a strong Virgin Mary connection due to the religious connotations of the festival) and Tio Supay (Uncle/God of the mountains, transformed into the devil for these festivities). It’s this image of the devil which has given Oruro its unique charm and caused people for many years to visit this particular festival. Continue Reading

“Volteeeeeiiii Recife….!” (Recife, I’m back!)

“Foi a saudade que me trouxe pelo braço…” (Missing you has dragged me back).

When I think of Carnival in Recife and Olinda in the North East of Brazil, the first thing that pops into my memory is the constant barrage of ‘frevo’ music that one hears during every daylight hour of the festivities. Now, if drinking half a bottle of cachaça makes you feel like you have a marching band pacing through your head the next day, hearing frevo music at 9am on a hot summer’s day will turn that feeling into something approaching reality. Continue Reading

Throughout Latin America, carnival traditions are intrinsically tied to the African slave descendents and their culture and struggle. It’s said that during colonial times, the week of carnival (a Christian traditional celebration of pagan origins that happens right before lent) was a period of permissiveness when the European class would allow their servants to go out to the streets, play their “primitive” drum-based music and dance. Since then, carnival, in many places of Latin America has become synonymous with black, mulatto, and mestizos parading down the streets with colourful costumes to the irresistible rhythm of Afro-Latin percussion. Continue Reading

Rio de Janeiro’s carnival may be one of the most famous cultural parties in the world. However, what most people from outside Rio and Brazil may not know is that the true spirit of carnival in Rio de Janeiro is not necessarily in the official parade hosted at Sambodromo (or Sambadrome), where 12 different teams of samba schools (Escolas de Samba) compete to see who delivers the most luxurious and exciting parade. In fact, the real carnaval that the cariocas – and an increasing number of tourists – enjoy during Brazil’s holy week takes place in the streets and is completely free. Continue Reading