{"id":74118,"date":"2023-04-06T11:57:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T14:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=74118"},"modified":"2023-04-13T16:18:49","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T19:18:49","slug":"fruit-from-the-tree-black-culture-center-samba-quilombo-in-rios-west-zone-preserves-black-identity-and-memory-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=74118","title":{"rendered":"Fruit from the Tree Black Culture Center: Samba Quilombo in Rio\u2019s West Zone Preserves Black Identity and Memory [IMAGES]"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Original art by Raquel Batista<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

As they settled Brazil, Portuguese colonizers destroyed Black people\u2019s lives <\/span>in many ways<\/span><\/a>, among them cultural destruction, stripping away beliefs, values, customs, and rhythms<\/span>. When they didn’t kill, they were <\/span>whitening <\/span>and <\/span>distorting<\/span> [our culture]. <\/span>To this day we’re left in doubt about who we are, why we are, where we came from, and where we are going. When he became aware of this<\/a>, Breno Batista, 24, a resident of Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone<\/a>, felt the need to establish the <\/span>Fruit from the Tree Black Culture Center<\/span><\/a> (Centro de Cultura Negra Fruta do P\u00e9) focused on the cultural element he cultivates daily: <\/span>samba<\/span><\/a>. His house was always bustling. Samba came into his life <\/span>through his family<\/span><\/a>. In particular, his godfather Marcelo, who listened to a lot of samba and played the <\/span>cavaco<\/span><\/em> [string instrument central to samba].\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was very young and would already pretend to play. I remember him having three DVDs that he would watch a lot: <\/span>Jorge Arag\u00e3o<\/span><\/a> – <\/span>From Night to Day<\/a>, Fundo do Quintal<\/a><\/span>\u00a0– <\/span>Live at Olympus<\/a>, and Arlindo Cruz<\/a><\/span> – <\/span>Arlindo’s Pagode<\/span><\/a>. On my eighth or ninth birthday, I was given a sum of money from my family and my godfather took me to go and buy an instrument. I arrived at the shop not knowing what to buy. I chose the instrument that I\u2019d seen on the <\/span>Fundo do Quintal<\/span><\/a> DVD<\/span>, the <\/span>tan-tan<\/span><\/a> [a Brazilian hand drum], the instrument that the leader of the group, Sereno, played.\u201d \u2014 Breno Batista<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Batista learned to play instruments with his cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, and by watching video tutorials on <\/span>YouTube<\/span><\/i>. It was always for fun, with the family. The first time he was paid was at a family member\u2019s birthday party. At that time, he also began to watch documentaries about <\/span>samba and the Black community<\/span><\/a>. From then onwards, he had the idea to create a project for the revival of Black culture <\/span>through samba<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought about the history of how samba was created in Rio de Janeiro, [about how] organizations were formed by people with the same ideas coming together. I needed to create this kind of gathering in some way.\u201d \u2014 Breno Batista\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The samba circle started between the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017<\/span><\/a>. The first edition took place on the promenade in <\/span>Campo Grande<\/span><\/a> on Rua Barcelos Domingos. The event was initially called <\/span>Samba da Antiga<\/span><\/i> (Old School Samba)<\/span>. Batista and his family were not expecting such a big gathering, but lots of people came, including several older sambistas<\/em> [samba musicians] whom he admired. In 2019, they brought the circle to his backyard, which is currently the headquarters of Fruit from the Tree Black Culture Center, at Avenida Ces\u00e1rio de Melo 6300, in the neighborhood of <\/span>Inhoa\u00edba<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Samba circle at Fruit from the Tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Samba Quilombo Activities<\/h3>\n

The Fruit from the Tree Samba Samba Circle happens every third Saturday of the month. The majority of the crowd is Afro-Brazilian, appropriate given the purpose of the Black Culture Center. Each edition has a different guest or theme. They have already hosted famous composers and samba musicians, like <\/span>Cleber Augusto<\/a>, Marquinho PQD<\/a>, Z\u00e9 Roberto<\/a>, Z\u00e9 Luiz do Imp\u00e9rio<\/a>, Ph Mocidade<\/a>, \u00c1urea Martins<\/a>, Andr\u00e9ia Caff\u00e9<\/a>, Zeca do Trombone<\/a>, Marcelinho Moreira<\/a>, and Jorge Nei,<\/span> to name a few. The Samba Circle’s opening act are the “fruit’s seeds,” a group made up of students and musicians trained at the Fruit from the Tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the <\/span>Center offers<\/span><\/a> lessons in <\/span>percussion<\/span><\/a>, samba dancing,<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and <\/span>capoeira<\/span><\/a>. Every fortnight, the <\/span>Black Reflections Discussion Group<\/span><\/a> brings together Afro-Brazilians interested in going deeper into the search for cultural, political, and economic autonomy. When introducing themselves and talking about why they are in the circle, those present all have similar responses: \u201cacceptance, belonging, quilombo, identification, revival.\u201d According to participants, it’s a safe space where they can drop all the armor that racism forces us to wear and carry every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Instructors Breno and Jacke with some of their percussion students.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They have hosted other activities too including: <\/span>Abayomi doll making<\/span><\/a> workshops; a <\/span>Sankofa Mhuri dinner<\/span><\/a>, a cooking style inspired by a variety of African traditions; the <\/span>Samba Cinema Club<\/span><\/a>, a film screening of the documentaries <\/span>Tempo \u00ca<\/span><\/em><\/a> (\u00ca Time)<\/span><\/em>, which describes the story of the composer <\/span>Z\u00e9 Luiz do Imp\u00e9rio<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Samba do Trem (Train Samba)<\/span><\/i>, a journey on Rio’s historic samba train with memorable encounters; and <\/span>actions in public schools in the region<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Abayomi doll making workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Raquel Batista<\/a> is a visual artist, cultural producer, illustrator, and photographer and Breno Batista’s cousin. She was raised in Campo Grande and works with Fruit from the Tree running several activities. She says:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe activity which I most enjoyed being part of was a presentation we did about <\/span>African Womanism<\/span><\/a>. It was a beautiful and intimate gathering. We spoke about women’s role from an African perspective and paid homage to the women in our family. Afterwards, a teacher who’d attended that day asked us to talk about it at the school where she works. I prepared a lesson designed for children. I explained the matriarchy to ten-year-olds and they responded very positively. This exchange was very cool! Mainly because I went more in depth into the topic [to be able to teach the little ones].”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Raquel Batista doing an art activity with the children.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Origin of the Name and Inspiration for the Project<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe chose Fruit from the Tree because of the song <\/span>Oitava Cor<\/span><\/em><\/a> (Eighth Color)<\/span><\/em>, by <\/span>Luiz Carlos da Vila<\/span><\/a> [with Sombra and <\/span>Sombrinha<\/span><\/a>]. I really liked the comparisons in his songs. And because we have trees here at home. One day my brother Ramon and I were in the backyard picking acerola [a type of cherry]. The song [\u2018More, much more, than the heat of a bonfire, than the winds that shake the mountain ranges, because between us, love is no joke, can’t you see? It is to have at hand, fruit from the tree in the backyard\u2019] hit me and I thought: Fruit from the Tree.\u201d \u2014 Breno Batista\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oitava Cor<\/span><\/i> was recorded by Grupo Fundo de Quintal, another inspiration for the project’s inception.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Fundo de Quintal did in [carnival bloco] <\/span>Cacique de Ramos<\/span><\/a> was an uplifting movement for many Black artists and put samba in the mainstream media at the time. They managed to make a younger crowd find pleasure in ancestral music. So, it was one of the things that inspired me to do it here.” \u2014 Breno Batista<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A snippet from the song <\/span>Viver<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Living)<\/span><\/i>\u00a0by <\/span>Ant\u00f4nio Candeia Filho says: \u201cAs long as there\u2019s struggle, there\u2019s samba.\u201d Candeia<\/a> defended the idea that Black people must find the solution to their problems through their traditions. When asked about one of the biggest difficulties in maintaining the project, Batista replied that it is precisely people’s misunderstanding of what Candeia was saying and the consequent difficulty they have in helping to build projects to revive Black culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Percussion class for the children.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Fruit from the Tree Team\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

In contrast to a commercial, individualistic paradigm, a person or community is not built or maintained on its own<\/a>. Just like planting and harvesting, Fruit from the Tree is a collective process led by five producers: Alexandro Pereira, Carla Batista, Kawan Lopes, Luciano Francisco, and Rodrigo Wellerson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think of Fruit from the Tree as a place of belonging, being a young Black man, of empowering and valuing the Black people of the West Zone. It is always a privilege to help strengthen the Samba Quilombo.” \u2014 Kawan Lopes<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fruit from the Tree generates income for over 30 people, including exhibitors, security, bartenders, producers, musicians, caterers, instructors, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Matriarchs of Samba\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

It is vital to bring to light the participation of <\/span>Black women in the creation of samba<\/span><\/a>. Two women essential to the running of Fruit from the Tree are Marly Batista and Carla Batista\u2014Breno Batista’s grandmother and mother. Everything that happens in the project depends on them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Aunt Carla, Grandma Marly and the sambista \u00c1urea Martins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Frequently, Marly Batista, commonly known as Grandma Marly, prepares her famous Angu [typical Brazilian polenta dish] to feed whomever is at the samba in her home. She supports the project wholeheartedly and doesn’t mind the samba drums. She reminds us of the <\/span>Bahian “Aunts”<\/span><\/a> who brought samba from the Brazilian state of Bahia to Rio de Janeiro and allowed <\/span>samba musicians, Candombl\u00e9 practitioners, and capoeira masters to meet in their homes<\/span><\/a>. When someone complains of some pain or discomfort, Grandma Marly uses her ancestral medicinal knowledge<\/a> with her dependable teas. She says she loves to see the house always full of people.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I feel so proud and love his project, the people who come to my house, the instructors. Even when I’m no longer here, I want them to continue with the project!” \u2014 Grandma Marly<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Like the Bahians, Carla Batista is called tia<\/em> [aunt] out of respect by many people who come to the project. She is part of the production and participates in all the activities, dedicating much of her time and energy to welcome, with a lot of love, the people who are interested in this samba quilombo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel a mixture of gratitude and responsibility for them. I am very happy for this show of affection. I often find myself giving advice and taking care of them all!” \u2014 Aunt Carla<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Pathway towards Afro-Construction<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the project’s goals is to create a samba school from scratch. It will be a collective project, based on the recognition that samba is capable of restoring the humanity of Black people, generating jobs, politically empowering, educating, forming families, and much more. Members of the Center strengthen Black identity and memory through samba, the largest cultural movement in Brazil.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flags representing Dina Ivone Lara, Fruit from the Tree, and Candeia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About the author: <\/span><\/i>Larissa Nascimento<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a researcher, journalism student and writer. A Black woman, born in the Jardim Nordeste favela, she lives in the East Zone of S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

About the artist:\u00a0Raquel Batista<\/a>\u00a0is a visual artist and\u00a0works as a photographer<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0illustrator<\/a>. A Black woman, resident of Rio\u2019s West Zone<\/a>, she is an undergraduate at\u00a0UFRJ<\/a>\u2019s School of Fine Arts.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Support\u00a0<\/b>RioOnWatch<\/i><\/b>\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0<\/b>by clicking here.<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas As they settled Brazil, Portuguese colonizers destroyed Black people\u2019s lives in many ways, among them cultural destruction, stripping away beliefs, values, customs, and rhythms. When they didn’t kill, they were whitening […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":74134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1288,1328,1290,1332,329],"tags":[662,3554,521,258,910,1522,504,152,3393,270,420,571,1403,21],"writer":[3591],"translator":[3561],"illustrator":[3421],"photographer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-74118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-highlight","8":"category-by-community-contributors","9":"category-civilsociety","10":"category-photo-essays","11":"category-solutions","12":"tag-afro-brazilian-culture","13":"tag-anti-racism","14":"tag-campo-grande","15":"tag-community-solution","16":"tag-creative-organizing","17":"tag-cultural-production","18":"tag-culture","19":"tag-participation","20":"tag-representation","21":"tag-resistance","22":"tag-carnival","23":"tag-samba","24":"tag-solution","25":"tag-west-zone","26":"writer-larissa-nascimento","27":"translator-felix-foot","28":"illustrator-raquel-batista"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=74118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/74134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=74118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=74118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=74118"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=74118"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=74118"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=74118"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=74118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}