Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Jongo is considered the parent of Samba
Jongo was brought to Brasil by African slaves of Bantu origin. It established itself in the region of Paraiba Valley, as a way for the slaves to have an escape from their condition. Since it was not totally of religious nature, the rhythm was tolerated by the masters, and was regularly practiced within quarters.
The end of slavery resulted in a massive influx of ex-slaves to the capital of the country, Rio de Janeiro. Without economic prospects, this new poor population was forced to seek shelter high in the hills. This was the birth of the first favelas of the city, with names that delineated the first schools of jongueiros... São Carlos, Mangueira, Salgueiro e Serrinha.
The new modern lifestyle severely compromised jongo's chances for survival. This type of rhythm, which is danced in a circle in the courtyards of homes, gave way to new spacial constraints of the city, and gatherings of people, the primary element of jongo, became rare. And also, as the original jongo artists aged, the artform also became rare.
If it wasn't for the favela Serrinha, Jongo might have died completely. But since Serrinha was more rural, away from the city, there were still conditions for jongo to thrive.
Samba, with its harmonies, guitar and cavaquinho, was a new hybrid which came in to take the place of Jongo in the morros of Rio de Janeiro, and with the birth of the samba schools, "escolas de samba", Samba installed itself permanently in the lives of the population.
Jongo was brought to Brasil by African slaves of Bantu origin. It established itself in the region of Paraiba Valley, as a way for the slaves to have an escape from their condition. Since it was not totally of religious nature, the rhythm was tolerated by the masters, and was regularly practiced within quarters.
The end of slavery resulted in a massive influx of ex-slaves to the capital of the country, Rio de Janeiro. Without economic prospects, this new poor population was forced to seek shelter high in the hills. This was the birth of the first favelas of the city, with names that delineated the first schools of jongueiros... São Carlos, Mangueira, Salgueiro e Serrinha.
The new modern lifestyle severely compromised jongo's chances for survival. This type of rhythm, which is danced in a circle in the courtyards of homes, gave way to new spacial constraints of the city, and gatherings of people, the primary element of jongo, became rare. And also, as the original jongo artists aged, the artform also became rare.
If it wasn't for the favela Serrinha, Jongo might have died completely. But since Serrinha was more rural, away from the city, there were still conditions for jongo to thrive.
Samba, with its harmonies, guitar and cavaquinho, was a new hybrid which came in to take the place of Jongo in the morros of Rio de Janeiro, and with the birth of the samba schools, "escolas de samba", Samba installed itself permanently in the lives of the population.
