Playlist on Spotify with three songs and an audio clip about this location
In the early 20th century, the neighborhood, predominantly rural and residential in character, was made up of small farms, small businesses, simple townhouses, and large backyards. Urbanization began with the arrival of Black workers coming from farms in southern Minas Gerais and from Rio's central districts. This made Oswaldo Cruz a meeting point for various Afro-Brazilian cultural expressions, such as Jongo. It was at the parties and celebrations held in the region's backyards that samba circles, blocos, and samba schools began to take shape.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph. At the top, there is a headline in Portuguese mentioning "Samba train leaves Central Station at 8 p.m." Below the headline, there is a photo of people walking on a train platform. On the left, we see a woman with her back turned, wearing a floral-print blouse and jeans. She is walking toward the platform. On the right, several people are walking toward the camera, some wearing hats and traditional clothing. In the background, we see the structure of the train station's roof. On the right side of the image, there is text posted on the wall, but it is not fully legible.Trem do Samba ganha notoriedade / Jornal do Brasil - Hemeroteca Digital da FBN
The presence of the train, both as a means of transportation and as a symbol of connection, was crucial to the spread of ideas, melodies, and influences. The train became a true "cultural artery," essential to the circulation of musical traditions.
It was Paulo da Portela who made the relationship between samba and the train famous. In the 1920s, working in Downtown Rio, Paulo used to catch the 6:04 p.m. train bound for Oswaldo Cruz. At that time, singing samba in the streets was frowned upon by the police, who could arrest the sambistas for vagrancy. To escape repression, Paulo and his friends would gather in the train cars and sing sambas along the way, without being bothered.
Image description: This is a photograph of a subway station called "Estação Oswaldo Cruz." The image shows a large crowd of people gathered on an upper level of the station, near the railings that mark off access to the trains. On the left, there is a metal structure with a sloped roof. In the background, urban buildings are lit up at night, with trees and traffic lights visible. On the right, there is a building with colorful stripes and a sign that reads "Oswaldo Cruz."Estação lotada em dia de Trem do Samba / Reprodução da internet
In the mid-90s, sambistas led by Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz recreated Paulo's route with the Trem do Samba project. Since then, National Samba Day has been celebrated with trains packed with samba circles in every car, departing from Central do Brasil. When passing through Mangueira, all the cars join together to sing "Mangueira, teu cenário é uma beleza". The same happens in Madureira, when everyone sings: "Um trem de luxo parte, para exaltar a sua arte, que encantou Madureira". A true popular geography!
Image description: The image shows an information panel at a train station. On the left, there is a blue train with colorful geometric patterns. In the center, a large blue panel with white letters reads "Oswaldo Cruz". To the left of this text, there is a red sign with a left-pointing arrow, marking "Deodoro". On the right, there is another red sign with a right-pointing arrow, marking "Central". Below, there is a white poster with colorful illustrations and black text. The poster advertises an event called "Trem do Samba", with specific dates and images of people dancing samba.Trem do Samba em Oswaldo Cruz / Reprodução da internet.
When the train arrives at Oswaldo Cruz, both sides of the station host several samba circles and shows. It's a way of bringing the city together and fostering economic development through the appreciation of cultural traditions, keeping the essence of samba alive, without compromise.
Image description: The image presents a set of logos organized into four groups, each with a heading above it. The groups are "Realization," "Curation," "Technologies," and "Support." Each group contains logos from different companies and institutions. The logos vary in design and color, with some featuring vibrant colors and others in more neutral tones. The layout is linear, with the logos arranged horizontally within each group.
