The History Of Samba
artsdepot
Nether Street, North Finchley
Sunday, July 10, 7pm
With their intoxicating samba music and hip-wiggling moves, The F-IRE Collective sounds like a group who might hail from somewhere near the equator, where hearts pound under perspired chests to frenetic drumming.

But in fact, they are a London-based group, of which two key members live in not-so-sunny Barnet. Founder of the collective, Barak Schmool, lives in Ridge Hill, Golders Green.

Bosco de Oliveira is known as the founder of British samba after setting up the famous London School of Samba. He lives in Rosemary Avenue, Finchley.

"When I grew up, the radio played Brazilian popular music, samba, a lot of Brazilian western' music, a lot of rock and roll and the bossa nova," says the 54-year-old Brazilian. "It was the folkloric music from the north-east which was fashionable and hooked me in, not the pop music.

"There was the street music, played in carnivals and music played by the Congados, which was a festival of music and drama in honour of a Catholic saint, but celebrated by Africans or Afro-Brazilians. The plays relate to medieval European wars and feature characters such as the King and Queen of Congo, ambassadors and the captain. It's done to drumming and it's fascinating.

"One saint, Nossa Senora de Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary), the patroness of all drummers, was commemorated the day I was born. On my birthday, when I was a kid, you'd always hear the drums outside as the Congados passed by. That's how my love of the drum developed."

Oliveira came to England in 1978 because his first wife was English. Unlike today, at that time, there were hardly any Brazilians and no samba scene. Instead, he played with funk/jazz bands until 1983, when Brazil-mania began to kick off.

Now there is a thriving Brazilian culture in the UK which enjoys a healthy restaurant trade, capoirera, samba, and a following of the lovely Gisele Bundchen.

Oliveira plays percussion in a number of bands including Grupa Sambando "There are three Brazilians in it," he says. "This music came out of a very early style of samba called Partido Alto, which had a lot of improvisation. There was a big revival in the late 70s and early 80s. It became known as Pagode, the name for party. So Pagode music is party music."

Grupa Sambando will be partying at artsdepot with Flame Latin Dance and Rhythms of the City.

Part of the art centre's Celebra! season, they present a musical journey in song, rhythm and dance, tracing the history of Brazil's national art form samba from its birth in the cultural diversity of the 18th century New World to the exuberant glamour of modern Rio Carnival.

Members of the F-IRE Collective will also be holding workshops on various samba techniques throughout the day, including samba dance, percussion, and carnival costume making.

Admission to the concert is £10 (£8 concesssions). Call the box office on 020 8369 5454.