Samba as a symbol of Brazilian cultural identity. Historical origins, formation, evolution

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the process of historical formation and evolution of the musical and choreographic genre of samba, which has concentrated the features of the national and cultural identity of Brazil. The formation of samba began in the Afro-Brazilian communities of the state of Bahia at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries. With the end of the slaveholding regime in 1888 and the emergence of freedom of movement of the Negro population, conditions appeared for the maturation of the samba genre, which developed especially favorably in Rio de Janeiro. The wave of renewal in world art that swept across Europe and America in the first decades of the 20th century captured Brazil as well. This spirit of change could not but affect the samba, which became widespread throughout the country. The article discusses the main varieties of samba. The activities of samba schools in preparation for the carnival are highlighted. Attention is drawn to the active role of samba in the process of the emergence of hybrid genres of pop music in the era of globalization. There are concerns about the negative impact of this process on the features of the national identity of Brazilian music and, in particular, samba.