On Monday evening, as 100,000 folks collect within the stands and VIP packing containers of the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome to look at the second evening of parades at Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous carnival, a voice that has resonated for half a century might be heard there for the final time.
It will likely be the ultimate efficiency by Neguinho da Beija-Flor, 75, one of many nation’s most well-known samba singers, who’s retiring after main 50 consecutive parades for the Beija-Flor – or Hummingbird – college.
At an occasion that brings collectively hundreds of members from 12 samba colleges, he’s essentially the most recognisable voice in Rio’s elite carnival league, which operates like a championship, with a winner topped every year.
“I can’t wait to retire. After this Monday’s parade, c’est fini,” stated Neguinho, along with his fixed smile and impeccably groomed afro – not a single gray strand in sight – simply earlier than heading into the studio for his remaining rehearsal.
He introduced his retirement in November, a choice that stunned Rio’s samba world, which follows the carnival parade with the identical ardour that different Brazilians have for soccer.
The rationale for his retirement? Exhaustion. “Being a samba-school singer requires the stamina of a marathon runner,” he stated.
Throughout the 70–80 minutes of a college’s parade, it’s the singer’s job to take care of the vitality of the huge viewers – which might be nearly twice the dimensions of the group at Maracanã soccer stadium – repeatedly chanting the yr’s samba-enredo theme music in an countless loop. “It’s a large effort that has solely change into more durable with age,” Neguinho stated.
Born Luiz Antônio Feliciano in Nova Iguaçu, a poverty-stricken metropolis within the higher Rio space, he began singing for an area samba bloco at age 22 when he was a member of the air drive.
As a diminutive of negro (black), “Neguinho” is commonly utilized in Brazil in a derogatory method to check with a Black boy or man generically. However amongst Afro-Brazilians, it could actually additionally carry an affectionate that means, which is what he had in thoughts when he adopted the nickname.
“I’ve suffered loads of racism in my life and profession, and I’ve fought lots, however I additionally suppose we have to reside. If I had spent my whole life combating, I wouldn’t have had time to dedicate myself to my music and household,” stated Neguinho.
His huge break got here in 1976 when he needed to step in to switch a lead singer who died all of a sudden earlier than carnival. The varsity gained the championship – its first – and he turned Neguinho from Beija-Flor.
Since then, the varsity has gained 14 titles, all beneath Neguinho’s raspy voice and his trademark battle cry: “Olha a Beija-Flor aí, gente!” (“Right here comes Beija-Flor, of us!”)
Together with the artistry of the singers, musicians, dancers and designers, a key issue within the college’s success was the monetary help of an area playing boss.
Jogo do bicho – or animal lottery – is an unlawful playing sport ubiquitous throughout Brazil, and lengthy been tied to varied felony actions, together with police corruption and murders.
Within the Seventies, playing bosses noticed samba colleges as a way to wash their photos and improve management over territories. At the very least half of the elite samba colleges are nonetheless linked to bicheiros, because the bosses are recognized, however Neguinho doesn’t see this as an issue: “If it weren’t for the jogo do bicho, possibly at present Rio’s carnival wouldn’t be the spectacle it’s.”
All through his half-century profession, Neguinho has solely ever sung for one college, a consistency almost unthinkable in at present’s more and more professionalised carnival, the place artists change teams as shortly as soccer gamers change golf equipment.
“Neguinho is the most important star of Rio’s carnival at present, and his farewell marks the tip of a romantic period,” stated Leonardo Bruno, the writer of a number of books on samba and carnival. “Beija-Flor has had the face and, extra importantly, the voice of Neguinho for the final 50 years, and that’s why there was such an outpouring of emotion when he introduced his retirement.”
Neguinho says that he has by no means acquired a wage from the varsity, explaining that his livelihood comes from his work as a “mid-year” sambista, as artists with work exterior carnival are known as.
He has additionally written a string of non-carnival hit sambas and plans to proceed his profession by a brand new album and upcoming exhibits.
Regardless of his calm perspective towards his retirement determination, the singer choked up with tears as he spoke about it three weeks in the past in the course of the remaining rehearsal at Sapucaí.
For this Monday, nevertheless, he has a plan.
“I’ve been speaking to my therapist, and she or he steered that I deliver a banner that claims: ‘Thanks very a lot.’ She advised me to simply open the banner and say nothing. In any other case, I gained’t be capable of sing,” he stated.
“In order that’s what I’ll do. I’ll present the banner and sing. After the parade, a automotive might be ready for me – and I’ll go away.”
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