Raízes negras, caminhos do samba: experiências musicais e transformações na academia do samba

Abstract

This study addresses the formation and development of the Samba School Academia do Samba, highlighting how Black communities in Pelotas-RS created and adapted their own forms of organization and cultural expression. The research begins with the carnival cordão Fica Ahi pra Ir Dizendo, which later evolved into the Clube Fica Ahi and subsequently the Academia do Samba. Through the analysis of historical documents, such as meeting minutes and institutional records, it was possible to identify the internal dynamics that drove changes in organizational formats and their dialogue with musical practices. The research emphasizes the importance of Academia do Samba as a cultural and musical institution led by Black individuals. The trajectory of its musicians, performances, and parades reveal the musical experiences essential to the identity of the group, while also exposing the social and cultural relationships that underpin these practices. The African diaspora is understood here as a rhizomatic network, facilitating symbolic exchanges and institutional, cultural, and musical transformations that shaped the history of Academia do Samba. Finally, the study contributes to the appreciation of carnival as a space for expression, resistance, and cultural reinvention by Black groups, demonstrating how music and collective organization are central to the preservation and transformation of Afro-diasporic traditions. Academia do Samba emerges as a symbol of identity and cultural memory, embodying the multiple layers of history, culture, and art that define the carnival in Pelotas.