The week between August 25th and 31st begins with the memory of a pioneer of samba in Brazil. Today, the 25th, marks 50 years since the death of Ernesto Joaquim Maria dos Santos, better known as Donga. The musician and composer from Rio de Janeiro is the author of “Pelo Telefone”, considered the first samba to be recorded in Brazil, in 1916.
With an immense legacy, he and his compositions have been honored countless times. In 2018, the History Today talked about “Over the Phone”. The song had already been performed in 2013 by none other than Martinho da Vila, Nelson Sargento and Diogo Nogueira in Gamboa Samba:
Another icon of Brazilian music remembered this week is Lupicínio Rodrigues. On the 27th, it will be 50 years since the death of the singer and composer from Rio Grande do Sul. With classics of the “heartbreak” genre such as “Vingança” and “Nervos de Aço”, he was remembered on programs on EBC as the Moment Three in 2015 and the All Voices in 2017. In 2019, the TV Brazil released the special “Love Must Be Sacred” with several tributes to him:
Dates to raise awareness
The week, towards the end, has five dates that should help us reflect on some sectors of society. On the 29th, we have three of them: National Day to Combat Smoking, National Day of Lesbian Visibility and World Day Against Nuclear Tests.
Established by Law No. 7,488 of 1986, National Anti-Smoking Day is another opportunity for the population to be alerted about the harmful effects of smoking and serves as a moment to discuss actions to prevent and control tobacco use. The origin of the date was the theme of History Today and reports from Reporter Brazil that talk about people who have gotten rid of addiction and about the harm caused by electronic cigarettes:
Created during the 1st SENALE (National Lesbian Seminar), held in 1996 in Rio de Janeiro, and with the aim of debating issues related to sexuality, health and violence faced by lesbian women, the National Lesbian Visibility Day was the theme of this 2023 matter of Brazil Agency which talked about lesbian profiles to follow.
World Day Against Nuclear Tests is a date recognized by the UN and created to raise awareness about the devastating effects of nuclear testing and to promote the complete abolition of these practices. Brazil Agency and the National Radio Agency have already talked about the date in the past.
August 30 also has two important dates: the United Nations International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearances and the National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day. The United Nations International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, established in 1997, was the theme of an edition of the History Today in 2017:
Finally, also on August 30th, we have National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day. Dedicated to increasing understanding about this chronic neurological disease that affects thousands of people across the country, the date was the subject of articles in National Radio Agency, National Youth and of the Reporter Maranhao.
Check out the list of dates for Hoje é Dia from August 25 to 31, 2024:
August 2024
25
Death of British mathematician and engineer James Watt (aged 205) – a builder of scientific instruments, he stood out for the improvements he introduced to the steam engine, which constituted a fundamental step towards the Industrial Revolution
Death of the sculptor, designer and professor from Minas Gerais, Alfredo Ceschiatti (aged 35) – in a new partnership with Niemeyer, he became the main sculptor of the new capital of the country in Brasília
Death of Rio de Janeiro musician and composer Ernesto Joaquim Maria dos Santos, known as Donga (aged 50) – author of Pelo Telefone, the first samba to be recorded in Brazil
Birth of American-based Israeli musician Gene Simons (75 years old) – vocalist, bassist and founder of the rock band Kiss
Death of American writer and screenwriter Truman Capote (40 years)
Birth of British singer, songwriter and musician Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus, aka Elvis Costello (70 years old) – he was involved in the early British pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and was later associated with punk rock and new wave styles before establishing himself as a unique and original voice in the 1980s
Soldier’s Day – the date honors the birth of Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, the Duke of Caxias, on August 25, 1803, patron of the Brazilian Army who became known as “the peacemaker” after quelling many rebellions against the Empire
Inauguration of the Buriti Palace (55 years)
26
Birth of Argentine writer Julio Cortázar (110 years old)
Death of Minas Gerais samba singer and composer Mauro Duarte (35 years old)
Birth of Paraná educator Júlia Wanderley (150 years old) – she was the first woman to attend a normal school and receive a teaching diploma in Paraná
Foundation of Palestra Itália, later known as Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (110 years)
Approval of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (235 years) – culminating document of the French Revolution, which defines the individual and collective rights of men (taking the word in the sense of “human beings”) as universal
International Women’s Equality Day
Anniversary of Campo Grande (MS) (125 years)
First broadcast of the Alma do Sertão Program, on National Radio (79 years)
Birth of the communicator, actor, presenter, composer, singer, comedian and visual artist from São Paulo, Orival Pessini (80 years old) – creator of iconic characters such as Fofão and Patropi, among others
27
Birth of American writer Ira Levin (95 years old)
Birth of singer and composer Sylvia Telles from Rio de Janeiro (90 years old)
Death of the Catholic bishop of Ceará Dom Hélder Câmara (aged 25) – he was archbishop emeritus of Recife and Olinda, one of the founders of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil and a great defender of human rights during the military dictatorship
Death of the singer and composer from Rio Grande do Sul, Lupicínio Rodrigues (aged 50)
Establishment of the Brazilian Telecommunications Code (62 years) – law that guaranteed the reservation of the 7pm to 8pm time slot for the radio series “A Voz do Brasil” for mandatory broadcasting — except on weekends and national holidays — on all radio stations in Brazil
28
Birth of the São Paulo actor and singer Nelson Roberto Perez, known as Bob Nelson (15 years old) – one of the first singers to mix country music from the interior with North American country
Birth of the German author and statesman of the Holy Roman Empire Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (275 years)
Promulgation of the Amnesty Law (Law No. 6,683) (45 years)
Lawyer José Guilherme Villela, former minister of the TSE, his wife and an employee of the house, were stabbed to death inside their apartment in 113 Sul. The couple’s daughter was accused of ordering the crime (15 years old)
Tapuyos Uruatis Indians, at Engenho do Itapecuru/MA, carry out a massacre of Jesuit priests Francisco Pires, Manuel Muniz and Gregório Fernandes (375 years old) – which drove the Society of Jesus away from Maranhão until the arrival of Father Antônio Vieira about 3 years later
First broadcast of the now defunct “Repórter Esso” program on Rádio Nacional do Rio de Janeiro (83 years ago) – the first Brazilian radio news program
Debut of the Radio Memory program, a partnership between the EBC Archive Management and Rádio MEC (5 years)
29
Death of São Paulo radio host and announcer Doalcei Bueno de Camargo (15 years old) – famous radio sports commentator
Soviet Union tests its first nuclear bomb (75 years)
National Day to Combat Smoking – a celebration in Brazil, which was established by Law No. 7,488 of June 11, 1986
National Lesbian Visibility Day – was instituted in Brazil by the 1st SENALE (National Lesbian Seminar), held in 1996 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, with debates on sexuality, health, violence, among other issues related to the inalienable right of a woman to love another woman
World Day Against Nuclear Tests – date recognized by the UN
Inauguration of the National FM Radio of Brasília (48 years)
30
People of East Timor decide in referendum for independence (25 years)
Brazilian Senate approves bill that makes qualified homicide or homicide committed by death squads a heinous crime (30 years)
United Nations International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearances – commemoration established by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution No. 65/209 of December 21, 2010, which had already been celebrated since 1981 in Latin America and the Caribbean, also counting on the support of renowned international humanitarian aid entities around the world
National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day
First broadcast of the program “Live among friends”, on Rádio MEC (32 years)
Birth of composer, arranger, pianist and singer from Rio de Janeiro, Francis Hime (85 years old)
Death of American boxer Rocky Marciano (aged 55) – the only world heavyweight champion in the history of professional boxing to retire undefeated
Birth of the singer and composer from Paraíba, Jackson do Pandeiro (105 years old)
