{"id":77376,"date":"2024-02-13T12:36:15","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T15:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=77376"},"modified":"2025-09-13T14:07:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T17:07:13","slug":"art-resistance-and-ancestral-struggle-at-carnival-part-3-se-benze-que-da-bloco-closes-mare-favelas-2024-carnival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=77376","title":{"rendered":"Art, Resistance and Ancestral Struggle at Carnival, Part 3: ‘Se Benze Que D\u00e1’ Bloco Closes Mar\u00e9 Favela’s 2024 Carnival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Se Benze Que D\u00e1 carnival bloco<\/em> parading through the streets of Mar\u00e9 on February 15, 2020. Photo: AF Rodrigues \/ Social Media Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n

This is the third in a series of three articles about carnival<\/a> traditions in Rio’s favelas and peripheries, respectively: the Bate-Bola clowns<\/a>, an indelible tradition in the North<\/a> and West Zones<\/a>, and Greater Rio’s Baixada Fluminense<\/a> region; the Bronze and Silver Series<\/a> access groups, mostly samba schools from favelas; and Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 (SBQD<\/a>), a street carnival parade from Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>. The three represent the unequal and disparate Rios that persist in (re)existing within a single city in the form of art and glitter.<\/h4>\n

Away from the spotlights of the Marqu\u00eas de Sapuca\u00ed Sambadrome<\/a>, the carnival of the favelas and peripheries reveals the strength of community work as a builder of the festivity. In this scenario of contrasts, residents of the favelas and peripheries of the city’s Metropolitan Region<\/a> are responsible for safeguarding the traditions and popular culture of carnival. Whether out of love, passion, or activism, no one gives up on taking carnival to the streets, even with few resources.<\/span><\/h4>\n

19 Years of Struggle and Resistance in Mar\u00e9’s Carnival<\/h3>\n

For 19 years, the Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 (SBQD)\u2014or in a loose translation that is testament to the group’s faith in better days: Bless Yourself and Go street carnival parade\u2014has been inviting the residents of the 16 favelas of Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, home to over 140,000 people<\/a>, to take to the streets without fear and enjoy carnival. Its procession serves as a form of protest and disruption. Fl\u00e1via C\u00e2ndido, a member of SBQD, emphasizes that \u201cthe Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 is a resistance movement of individuals who started very young, but even now, as they have grown up, are always striving to involve the youth. We realized, when producing this year’s storyline, that in the 19 years of the bloco<\/em>‘s existence, the word \u2018hardship\u2019 is always in the lyrics of our samba.\u201d This characteristic is maintained in the Mar\u00e9 group’s 2024 samba<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand strong, resilient, bold,
\nit\u2019s him, it’s us, our story told,
\nThe heartbeat of the favela’s beat,
\nwith faith and struggle, never defeat,
\nthirty years of resilience and ax\u00e9 we show,
\nbreaking barriers, watch us grow,
\nhere in Mar\u00e9, our unity flows.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With over 47,000 households, according to data from the Mar\u00e9 Census<\/a>\u2014conducted by Redes da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, in partnership with Observat\u00f3rio de Favelas<\/a>\u2014Mar\u00e9 has existed for over 80 years<\/a>. Since 1994, it has been officially recognized as a neighborhood<\/a> in the North Zone through Municipal Law No. 2,119\/1994<\/a>, a fact celebrated in the bloco<\/em>‘s 2024 samba:<\/p>\n

“Join Mar\u00e9’s sway,
\n30 years of fiery play,
\nfreedom to come and go, our decree,
\nin our veins, tradition’s key.
\nBreaking barriers we rise,
\nreviving joy under skies.
\nYou may try to quiet our call,
\n(Stand firm or fall),
\nSe Benze Que D\u00e1 stands tall.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This 2024 carnival cry highlights the Right to the Favela<\/a> and goes beyond by denouncing that the recognition of Mar\u00e9 as a neighborhood did not translate into improvements to the residents’ quality of life.<\/p>\n

“To talk about the 30 years of the Mar\u00e9 neighborhood is to talk about a State that stops itself from functioning. We have been oppressed for many years, with the State conducting police operations and preventing schools and health centers from functioning, preventing culture from existing. Our right to come and go is taken away.” \u2014 Fl\u00e1via C\u00e2ndido<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 makes its way through Tatajuba heading to Morro do Timbau, breaking internal borders during Carnival in 2019. Photo: Social Media Release Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Fl\u00e1via C\u00e2ndido’s opinion, the bloco<\/em> keeps alive “not only popular culture through revelry but it also amplifies the voice of the people and their resilience during the carnival festivities.” Born and raised in Mar\u00e9, C\u00e2ndido now serves as a parliamentary advisor and teaches Portuguese Language and Literatures at the Studying to Succeed Community College Exam Prep Course<\/a>. She highlights that the establishment of the Mar\u00e9 neighborhood failed to bring about equal access to the city<\/a> and dignity for its residents.<\/p>\n

“I’m part of a generation of Mar\u00e9 residents who used to have bus routes from Mar\u00e9 to Centro<\/a>, to Bonsucesso<\/a>, and to the South Zone<\/a>, directly to PUC<\/a>. But, over these 30 years, our complaint has been about how much we have lost the right to claim the city and be a part of Rio. This is very complex because the State comes in with its armed wing, but not with quality of life… The remaining buses, besides being scarce, are already overcrowded when they pass us on Avenida Brasil<\/a>, the main access route to Mar\u00e9, which gets completely flooded on rainy days… Our right to move around the city is denied as if Mar\u00e9 were not part of the city… It has been a neighborhood for 30 years, but only due to the resilience of its residents… There are streets here that only have a name and zip code today because residents who are part of NGOs developed technologies and fought for this citizenship. These dignities are taken away and the carnival bloco reclaims them. It protests, and brings all of this to light, but it does so with the power of joy.” \u2014 Fl\u00e1via C\u00e2ndido<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“Se Benze Que D\u00e1: Come to the Streets, Residents!” With this call and handfuls of rue\u2014which Brazilians believe to have cleansing and protecting powers\u2014, carnival bloco <\/em>Se Benze Que D\u00e1 has opened carnival in Mar\u00e9 every year for almost two decades.<\/p>\n

\"Flag<\/a>
Flag from Complexo da Mar\u00e9’s Se Benze Que D\u00e1 carnival bloco<\/em> with its slogan “Come to the streets, resident!” Photo: Release from Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 social media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Made up of residents\u2014and non-residents\u2014of Mar\u00e9, the bloco <\/i>grabs attention wherever its procession goes. SBQD revelers, called Sebenzeiros and Sebenzeiras, are true champions of a community communication movement that not only reclaims street carnival in Mar\u00e9 but also preserves popular culture, using revelry as social critique in an unequal city.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the first parade of 2024, the bloco<\/em> distributed the lyrics of its samba to the residents, who were excited to participate. Photo: Release from Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“People get curious, they want to be a part of it, and join the parade. So they pick up the samba lyrics, and minutes later, they start to sing, following the bloco. We pass through barbecues, sing ‘happy birthday’ to revelers who are celebrating their birthdays right there on the street… we get around!” \u2014 Alexandre Dias, born and raised in Mar\u00e9 and a history teacher<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the first parade of 2024, a resident reads the lyrics to the bloco<\/em>‘s samba and smiles. Photo: Release from Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Carnival that Crosses Borders<\/h3>\n

Generally, it’s difficult for outsiders to understand life in Mar\u00e9. However, for residents\u2014especially youth\u2014crossing the “borders” between the 16 favelas that make up the Complex is neither easy nor an everyday task.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The second parade of 2020 for Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 started from Nova Holanda towards Morro do Timbau, breaking internal territorial borders within Complexo da Mar\u00e9. Photo: Elis\u00e2ngela Leite\/Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That is why overcoming these barriers with the bloco<\/em>‘s parade has consistently stood as a primary goal, as explained by researcher, photographer, and bloco<\/em> member F\u00e1bio Caff\u00e9. For him, SBQD is integral to Mar\u00e9’s community fabric<\/a>, rallying residents to revel in the streets, alleys, and lanes, thereby transforming carnival joy into a catalyst for political empowerment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bloco contributes to the strengthening and fostering of social bonds among Mar\u00e9 residents, whether they are the organizers of the party or attendees. The Sebenzeiros and Sebenzeiras have a strong connection to Mar\u00e9. For them, more than a passing place, the location is deeply connected to their life stories, affections, daily routines, pains, and joys. Everything is deeply connected to the streets, alleys, lanes, and rooftops of the area.\u201d \u2014 F\u00e1bio Caff\u00e9<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For F\u00e1bio Caff\u00e9, the bloco<\/em>‘s existence serves as a powerful affirmation of popular culture’s role as a tool of resistance. Despite facing numerous forms of oppression firsthand, SBQD persists in parading. \u201cWe distribute the samba-enredo<\/em> to residents on the sidewalk, crash birthday celebrations unfolding in the alleys and lanes, energize barbecues as we pass by, and encourage residents peering out from their windows to join us on the street. These moments exemplify a genuine sense of community,” he emphasizes.<\/p>\n

Established in 2005 by a group of Mar\u00e9 residents, including Marielle Franco<\/a>, the bloco<\/em>‘s parade takes place every year on two Saturdays, one before and one after carnival, spanning across various territories of Mar\u00e9. The bloco<\/em> manages to break down both imaginary and real barriers within the community.<\/p>\n

\"he<\/a>
The Se Benze Que D\u00e1 bloco<\/em> occupies the streets of Mar\u00e9 with art, demanding justice for the assassination of Marielle Franco. Photo: Elis\u00e2ngela Leite \/ Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SBQD has, in a certain sense, evolved into a political movement with samba-enredos that, over 19 years, document the problems faced in the favelas of Mar\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been sambas addressing forced evictions<\/a>, the PAC<\/a> [Growth Acceleration Program], dengue fever, the oppression of police armored vehicles (‘caveir\u00e3o’), the arrest of [former governor] S\u00e9rgio Cabral<\/a>, and, of course, the brutal loss of Marielle Franco… Speaking about Marielle has become a central theme of the carnival bloco since her assassination, over these five years.\u201d \u2014 Alexandre Dias<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Parliamentarian Renata Souza<\/a>, born and raised in Mar\u00e9, SBQD reveler, and Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ<\/a>), argued in her thesis<\/a> The Common and the Street: Youth resistance to the militarization of life in Mar\u00e9<\/em> that:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity experiences centered on the appropriation of the street, such as funk<\/a>, the Rock em Movimento<\/a> group, the Se Benze que D\u00e1 carnival bloco, the Na Favela film club, the Sarau da Ro\u00e7a<\/a>, and the Mar\u00e9 0800<\/a> street market, reveal the commitment of Black and favela youth to changing paradigms, to a molecular revolution attentive to social relations, which subvert established powers stemming from the desire for freedom. All this is done through celebration, through being together, strengthening bonds of solidarity, carnivalizing their reality, and practicing everyday resistance for survival.\u201d \u2014 Renata Souza<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"In<\/a>
In the first parade of 2020, the bloco<\/em> left Morro do Timbau heading towards Vila do Pinheiro, breaking down barriers. Photo: Elis\u00e2ngela Leite \/ Bloco Se Benze Que D\u00e1 Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The organization of the Se Benze Que D\u00e1 carnival takes place in a community-oriented way. Tasks are divided and samba lyrics are built together through a WhatsApp group. For the composition of the 2024 samba-enredo, the group also gathered in a bar in Conjunto Esperan\u00e7a<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur meeting was difficult because [it rained a lot and], when it rains, the whole of Mar\u00e9 gets flooded… but [the meeting] happened and the bloco will parade once again\u201d \u2014 Fl\u00e1via C\u00e2ndido<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the 2024 carnival, the bloco<\/em> has already taken to the streets of Mar\u00e9 on Saturday, February 3, and will parade for the second time on February 17.<\/p>\n

This is the third in a series of three articles about carnival<\/a> traditions in Rio’s favelas and peripheries<\/h4>\n

About the author:\u00a0Tatiana Lima<\/a> is a journalist, popular communicator and journalism coordinator of the Fala Ro\u00e7a<\/a> favela newspaper from Rocinha. She has a masters degree in Media and Everyday Life from the Fluminense Federal University (UFF<\/a>) where she is currently working on a PhD in Communication. A member of Complexo do Alem\u00e3o\u2019s Researchers in Movement Study Group<\/a>, she also teaches reporting techniques at the Grassroots Communication Course of N\u00facleo Piratininga de Comunica\u00e7\u00e3o (NPC). A Black feminist born and raised in Favela do Quitungo and Morro do Tuiuti, Lima currently lives in Rio\u2019s urban periphery.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Support\u00a0RioOnWatch\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0by clicking here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas This is the third in a series of three articles about carnival traditions in Rio’s favelas and peripheries, respectively: the Bate-Bola clowns, an indelible tradition in the North and West Zones, […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":77411,"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":[1328,1268],"tags":[1448,1552,880,771,258,280,1572,910,2806,1522,952,221,674,11,501,205,26,2449,37,523,962,809,1555,2733,1011,1008,2600,420,3030,668,3678,130,458],"writer":[3125],"translator":[3425],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-77376","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-by-community-contributors","8":"category-favelaculture","9":"tag-favelasareassets","10":"tag-avenida-brasil","11":"tag-census","12":"tag-community-pride","13":"tag-community-solution","14":"tag-complexo-da-mare","15":"tag-conjunto-esperanca-mare","16":"tag-creative-organizing","17":"tag-cultural-preservation","18":"tag-cultural-production","19":"tag-dengue","20":"tag-favela-culture","21":"tag-memory","22":"tag-forced-evictions","23":"tag-funk","24":"tag-growth-acceleration-program-pac","25":"tag-housing-rights","26":"tag-marielle-franco","27":"tag-north-zone","28":"tag-observatorio-de-favelas","29":"tag-oral-history","30":"tag-public-security","31":"tag-redes-de-desenvolvimento-da-mare","32":"tag-renata-souza","33":"tag-right-to-come-and-go","34":"tag-right-to-the-city","35":"tag-right-to-the-favela","36":"tag-carnival","37":"tag-sense-of-belonging","38":"tag-governor-sergio-cabral","39":"tag-series-carnival-2024","40":"tag-social-movements","41":"tag-street-culture","42":"writer-tatiana-lima","43":"translator-aaron-scott"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77376","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\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77376"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81629,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77376\/revisions\/81629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/77411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77376"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=77376"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=77376"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=77376"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=77376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}