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São Paulo renames street to Rua do Samba, honoring black samba heritage
On 28 July the city of São Paulo renamed Rua João de Barros in the Barra Funda neighbourhood to “Rua do Samba”. The one‑block street has hosted samba gatherings since the 1980s and the new name recognises the musical tradition and the historic presence of the black community in the area.
The change was highlighted by local resident Simone Tobias, whose family has long been involved in the neighbourhood’s cultural life. She recalled that her grandfather founded the Barra Funda carnival group in 1914 and later created the “Camisa Verde e Branco” school. The renaming is part of the “Cartografias de Bambas” project coordinated by Nathália Oliveira, which seeks to preserve black cultural memory amid growing gentrification pressures.
Entities
Barra Funda · Carlos Alberto Tobias · Nathália Oliveira · Rua do Samba · Simone Tobias · São Paulo