Samba group Batala at the Funk Parade in Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy of Batala
From rodas in Malcolm X Park showcasing capoeira’s athleticism and reverence, to thundering drum beats of an Afro-Bloco in Adams Morgan, the prismatic glimmer of samba processions, and the aroma of coconut cooked every which way on U street, one thing is certain: Brazilian culture—shepherded by Brazilians, the Afro-Diaspora, and D.C. natives alike—is as vibrant and as alive in D.C. as it is in Brazil.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Brazil in D.C. initiative highlights and celebrates this vitality. An extension of the 2020 Festival program Brazil: Nações Nordestes, the initiative seeks to build collaborative partnerships with key community leaders, nonprofits, and cultural practitioners of Brazilian heritage expressions.
Throughout 2020, we will host local events ranging from movement and drum workshops to film screenings and cross-cultural conversations. Specifically, we will focus on sustained youth engagement through art residencies with partner education organizations and enrichment centers, tailored Festival tours, and neighborhood activations.
We invite you to learn more about the people, artists, and organizations behind Brazilian expressions in D.C., engage in conversations, partake in a workshop, and share your own connections to Brazilian culture.
This project received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
