Cape Verdean Batuko and Brazil’s Samba de Roda

I can’t help but see the similarity between Cape Verde’s Batuko dance and my beloved Samba de Roda, a form of Samba coming out of Brazil’s African heart, in Bahia.

Batuko is one of the oldest dance and drum genres of the island chain, originating on the island of Santiago.  It is thought that the word Batuko comes from a West African word Batuk or from the Portuguese word Batuque, meaning drums.  The ensemble is usually comprised of women drumming  and dancing in a semicircle. It is typically performed for various cultural celebrations as well as for women’s fertility.  It is suggested that much of the movement, which involves subtle and quick movements of the hips and feet, very similar to the way Samba de Roda is performed in parts of Bahia, has sexual connotations.

Up until the mid  70s when Cape Verde gained its independence, Batuko was considered “obscene and savage” by the Catholic Church and was banned from being performed in public.  Over time Batuko has been transformed into a social dance in urban areas and now men have taken  up Batuko, performing as Batukaderas.

Batukaderas Getting Down

Samba de Roda is a dance from Bahia Brazil that originally came from Angola, known as Semba.  It, like the Batuko is performed in a half or full circle and involves percussion and vocal accompaniment.   It is said that Samba de Roda is a playful way of communicating the battle of the sexes.  Samba de Roda is a seductive and light hearted dance that is performed socially throughout Bahia.  You will find it being practiced at the end of many capoeira sessions

Educational video on Samba de Roda

I see a nice little connection between Batuko and Samba. I often wonder how the two places evolved such a similar dance. Was it through a reverse diaspora of some sort or simply through migrations of Angolans.?

Memories of Bahia Brazil

Though it’s been years since the waves of Bahian waters have kissed my feet, I can still hear the sounds of samba de roda and the blocos marching in the streets.  Of all the travelling I’ve been fortunate to embark upon, Bahia without a doubt the fondest  and most jovial memories left in the bank.  I always say life in Salvador da Bahia is like being at an amusement park for adults.  Even despite the issues of rampant crime, I still felt more at home in that place than I have any where else in the world.  I actually spent 11 months there, teaching English and studying Afro-Brazilian dance along with percussion intermittently.  Walking around playing my pandeiro, as I tried to work out some samba rhythm or drinking way too many capirinhas before going out dancing were some of the activities that filled my days.

my pandeiro

Here is some lovely music straight from Bahia…Tony Mola is one of my favorites right now…

And a little dance video to inspire you all to flow through this day with samba in your heart….do coração!

One of my favorite dancers and instructors from Bahia, Dandha da Hora giving of her beauty….