Brazil’s First National Samba Circles Seminar Elevates Women’s Role

The inaugural 1st Seminar of the Rodas de Samba was held in Rio de Janeiro’s Palácio Gustavo Capanema, organized by the Ministry of Culture. Scholars, musicians and cultural leaders from São Paulo, Bahia and Rio convened to examine the history, preservation and economic impact of samba circles, underscoring their status as intangible cultural heritage.

A key emphasis was the growing protagonism of women in samba. Panels featured experts such as Helena Theodoro, Nilcemar Nogueira and Aline Calixto, discussing gender inequality, safety and representation within the traditionally male‑dominated space. Interim Culture Minister Márcio Tavares attended, and the event honored historic figures like Tia Ciata and concluded at the Renascença Clube with a tribute to sambista Tia Surica. Theodoro asserted, “O samba cura, revigora e educa,” highlighting samba’s social power and the push for policies that bolster female artists and cultural preservation.