The singer and songwriter Arlindo Cruz, 66, will be veiled, from 18h, on the court of the Samba Serrano samba school, his school of heart. The sambista’s body has already arrived at school and was placed in the center of the court. The place is still surrounded and being prepared to receive the honors. The funeral will be open to the public and will extend until 10 am on Sunday (10).
Early in the early afternoon of Saturday, the first wreaths of flowers to come from the hummingbird of Nilópolis and the Presidency of the Republic, with the words: “Tribute to the talent, poetry and generosity of the perfect sambista. Solidarity to family, friends and fans. President Lula and Janja”.
The family asks the people who go to the wake to wear clear clothes, especially white. The funeral will be a gurim, ritual of African origin, brought to Brazil by enslaved peoples, and who manifests itself in festive wake, marked by music, dance, food and drink. The goal is to celebrate the lives of those who broke and soften the pain of loss, transforming mourning into honor and joy. The school’s battery will also perform during the wake.
Origin
The word gurimfim originates in the quimbundo language, spoken in Angola, and means goodbye or farewell. In the cultures of Afro-Brazilian matrices, especially in Candomblé and Umbanda, Gurfim assumes a deeper meaning of ritual, involving the referral of the soul.
In Brazilian homes, especially in Rio de Janeiro, the old wakes were veiled at home, in the center of the room. The body only went to the cemetery at the time of the funeral. So this ceremony brought all the residents of the street and the surroundings of the communities. People were talking, having coffee, eating and drinking. All night and dawn, taking turns at the wake.
The funeral is scheduled for this Sunday (10) at 11am, at Jardim da Saudade Cemetery, in Sulacap, west of the city. Before leaving the court, there will be a restricted ceremony, only for family and friends. The artist died on Friday (8), due to multiple organ failure. Since 2017, he had faced sequelae of a stroke.
Sambista and singer Arlindo Cruz. Photo: Arlindocruzobem/Instagram
Legacy
Arlindo Cruz left a legacy of over 700 songs. An important part of Arlindo’s history goes through the traditional carnival block Cacique de Ramos, where he frequented samba wheels and touched along with other big names in the genre.
On social networks, Cacique de Ramos issued a note in which he said he registered, “with deep respect”, the departure of Arlindo Cruz: “Its trajectory remains inscribed in the history of samba and in the memory of our institution, as author and interpreter who, with singular talent, integrated essential chapters of our walk.”
The Carioca Sambério Serrano samba school also played a prominent role in Arlindo’s career. He composed 12 sambas-plot for the parades on the avenue. And was honored by the association with a plot in 2023 (photo).
“The Serrano Empire regrets, with immense grief and deep pain, the death of Arlindo Cruz, at age 66, one of the greatest names in the history of samba and illustrious son of our imperial crown,” said the school note.
Sambista and singer Arlindo Cruz. Photo: Arlindocruzobem/Instagram
TV Brazil
This Saturday, 11pm, TV Brasil reexized the Samba no Gamboa Program, with Arlindinho Cruz, who honored his father. The presentation is by singer Teresa Cristina.
On Friday, TV Brasil’s Non-Censorship program exhibited a theme edition to reverse the singer and songwriter. The edition was already recorded and programmed to air. The program, presented by Cissa Guimarães, was also attended by Arlindinho, producer Babi Cruz, wife of the musician, and writer Marcos Salles, who launches the book The Perfect Sambista, biography of the consecrated artist. Journalist Fabiane Pereira was the debater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfy_uokynjo
