{"id":82735,"date":"2026-02-13T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=82735"},"modified":"2026-02-15T12:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T15:31:16","slug":"favela-samba-queens-meet-homegrown-rhythm-section-queens-upholding-black-peripheral-and-female-leadership-in-rios-carnival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=82735","title":{"rendered":"Queens from the Favelas: Meet Homegrown Rhythm Section Queens Upholding Black, Peripheral and Female Leadership in Rio\u2019s Carnival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Favela<\/a>
Favela samba queens Mayara Lima, from Para\u00edso do Tuiuti, and Evelyn Bastos, from Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Primeira de Mangueira, were both born and raised in the favelas where their samba schools are located. Photomontage: Mayara by Ewerton Pereira and Evelyn from her Instagram profile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

In Rio de Janeiro\u2019s 2026 Carnival, RioOnWatch highlights the only two \u201crainhas de bateria,\u201d rhythm section queens, who hail from the favelas where their samba schools are located. Leading the rhythm section during the carnival parade and helping rouse the audience, this position is becoming increasingly rare among local residents, year after year. Meet Mayara Lima, from the Para\u00edso do Tuiuti Samba School, and Evelyn Bastos, from the Mangueira Samba School (Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Primeira de Mangueira).<\/em><\/p>\n

In the traditional Marqu\u00eas de Sapuca\u00ed Sambadrome Carnival parade, women occupy a wide range of roles and positions, whether within the samba schools themselves or in the organization of the festivities\u2014be it with the Independent League of the Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro (Liesa<\/a>), which organizes the Special Group parades, or at Liga RJ<\/a>, responsible for the Gold Series parades. However, one of the roles most closely associated with women is that of rhythm section queen.<\/p>\n

Favela Samba Queens<\/h3>\n

The role of rhythm section queen was created in the 1970s through invitations from carnival designers, patrons and samba school leaders, or through contests aimed at giving visibility to the most talented passistas<\/em> (samba dancers) and muses from the favela. These women had a connection with the samba schools and were part of the community itself, living in the favelas and peripheral areas that were the birthplace of the samba schools they would go on to represent. The primary mission of the queen was to entertain and energize both the rhythm section and the school\u2019s supporting community through samba, during rehearsals and the Sambadrome parade.<\/p>\n

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Ver esta publica\u00e7\u00e3o no Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Uma publica\u00e7\u00e3o partilhada por gshow (@gshow)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n