A fundamental part of the construction and development of Minas Gerais, the black population had its history rescued and honored in the musical performance of Mestre Negoativo and his band. On Friday night (28), the public filled the Sesc Caborê show space, in the city of Paraty, stage of the closing event of the 27th edition of the Sonora Brasil festival.
“This show follows the path of this black Minas Gerais, which also exists. It’s just not shown. My generation is bringing an awakening to the other generations that are now arriving so they can understand this and start to embrace and talk about our Afro-Mineirity”, reported Mestre Negoativo, in an interview with Brazil Agency.
Negoativo sang about the violence against black people that continues to this day, resistance through art and the celebration of ancestry. In his songs, through his voices and instruments, and in his speeches to the public, he also brought back the memory of the forced labor imposed on enslaved people, especially in mining.
Another memory he brings back is the power of quilombos, which play a crucial role in preserving the culture and traditional knowledge of the black population in the country. “The show is a sankofa movement, an African movement that the black community around the world is making a comeback. As if it were a return, we are accessing what actually belongs to us. As an Afro-Brazilian, an Afro-Mineiro, I am also making this return,” he said.
“For years now, I have been preparing to share this Afro-Mineirianity, because it is necessary for us to get closer to what belongs to us. I feel very honored that since I was a child, I was able to live with my grandmothers, with my mother, people from quilombos, where this culture has always been present”, reported the musician, who made several references to his ancestors during the performance and through the songs.
The berimbau, which has a strong presence in the show, was the instrument that awakened Mestre Negoativo to music. For him, the berimbau is an ancestral bridge that took him to the African continent
“I [comecei] through the bow, the belly berimbau, which I heard as a child. A guy passed by on the street playing, I heard that instrument and right away I went to Africa. And, through the berimbau, I discovered capoeira”, he said.
“All these Afro-Minas manifestations – Mozambique, Candombe, Vissungo, Congo, Catopês – are ingrained in me, in my DNA. And there are two artists who were fundamental in my life: James Brown and Bob Marley. They were socially, racially, politically, fundamental in my formation”, he said about his references.
In Sonora Brasil, Mestre Negoativo’s meeting was with Douglas Din, both representing regional music from Minas Gerais. They toured the country with the project’s shows, but Din did not participate in this final performance for health reasons.
“It was a diasporic meeting of generations. He comes from this lineage of hip-hop, rap, and I come more from the black protests of Minas Gerais. It was a very rich meeting, I learned a lot from Din.”
Promoted by Sesc, Sonora Brasil travels across the country bringing a combination of artists or groups from different musical trends that represent the regional diversity of Brazilian music. In the 2024-2025 biennium, the period of this 27th edition, ten of these artist formations, curated by Sesc, performed more than 300 shows in around 70 cities across the country. They presented new shows, mixing their references, styles and instruments.
This weekend, the public will still be able to say goodbye to the festival. Geraldo Espíndola & Marcelo Loureiro, representing rhythms from Mato Grosso do Sul, will perform at 7pm this Saturday, at Sesc Caborê. On Sunday (30), Manoel Cordeiro & Felipe Cordeiro present the music of Pará, in the same place. Afterwards, the band Mundiá, from Paraty, performs with the participation of Manoel Cordeiro.
*The reporter traveled at the invitation of Sesc
