How Samba Became a Form of Resistance in Brazil

The famous Brazilian rhythm of samba, the soundtrack to annual Carnival festivities, has been more than just a reflection of the happiness and celebration the South American nation is known for. It has also been a form of activism against repression in Brazil.

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For decades, several artists have used samba music to express their opinions on the social, economic and political issues in the country. Artists who were censored during the country's dictatorships managed to pass along their political protest messages disguised as happy tunes.

During the military dictatorship of General Getulio Vargas in the 1930s, the government used the development of samba as a way to unify Brazilian culture. As samba schools expanded, Vargas used the style of music to wash away any signs of social struggle. The dictatorship prohibited any criticism during the parades to prevent any awareness of class struggle by the poor.

Then, during the military dictatorship of the 1960s and '70s, samba music became a symbol of resistance. One of the main artists who became a worldwide figure for his lyrics and music is Chico Buarque, who mixed popular culture and poetry to criticize human rights abuses in the country.

After the 1964 coup in Brazil, Buarque began writing social and political songs, which were in return censored. He began using analogies, puns and subtle references to avoid censorship.

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Buarque was arrested in 1968 and lived in exile in Italy in 1969. He returned to Brazil in 1970 and continued writing songs as a protest against the dictatorship.

One of his songs, called "Despite You," has become a hymn for social struggles. The lyrics say:

"Today you are the one who rules / What you say is a fact / There is no discussion / Today we are talking secretly / And looking at the floor / You who invented that state / And invented all obscurity / You who invented sin / Forgot to invent forgiveness."

Another one of his popular songs, "Calice," talks about a biblical story, but it really refers to the military repression. He plays with the Portuguese word "Callese," which means shut up, and the religious "chalice."

One of the verses says: "How to drink this bitter drink / Swallowing the pain, swallowing the hard work / Even if the mouth is silent / Silence in the city is not heard / What's the use of being a saint's son? / It would be better to be the other's child /Another less dead reality / Such a lie, so much brute force."