Composers Nelson Cavaquinho (1911-1986) and Guilherme de Brito (1922-2006) asked in a samba that tributes be paid to them while they were still alive. Samba released in the first half of the 1970s by Nelson Gonçalves, When I call myself longing brings the message: 
“Give me the flowers while I’m alive/ To ease my woes/ After I call myself homesick/ I don’t need vanity/ I want prayers and nothing else.”
“Flores em vida” will receive Ciça, from Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos do Viradouro, a group from Niterói in which he is a drum master and for which he will parade at the Sambadrome, on February 16th, as the great honoree of the plot.
The reason for the bow to the master is the 70 years that Ciça – Moacyr da Silva Pinto in the civil registry – will turn in July. Ciça is the longest-lived drum master in activity.
The drums of samba schools are called the “rhythmic heart” of the group and the “soul” of the parade, because they lead the dancers and mobilize the stands. It is masters like Ciça who arrange the drums, teach and rehearse the percussionists and lead their musicians to excite the mass of 120 thousand spectators present at the Sambadrome. A job for few, as not many know how to deal with the heart and soul.
>> Samba school plots tell the unofficial story
>> Discover the plots of the Rio Special Group schools in 2026
>> Follow carnival coverage at Agência Brasil
Honored and judged
“It is an honor to be honored and at the same time to be judged [no desfile de carnaval]. Something unprecedented in life, this event. I am living in a unique moment. It’s been really cool, really cool”, says Mestre Ciça with emotion to Brazil Agency.
The honored master will not parade on a float. He will come on the floor, leading the drums, one of the items evaluated by the judges.
In addition to Viradouro, Ciça has already conducted the drums of Unidos da Tijuca, Grande Rio, União da Ilha and Estácio de Sá, where he started in 1988. The master, recognized for his well-rehearsed drum parades, led the percussion in two of the three carnivals won by Viradouro (2020 and 2024) and in a parade won by Estácio de Sá (1992).
Ciça’s CV weighed in on the decision on what the theme of the 2026 Viradouro would be.
“We had some plot possibilities that ended up not being successful, because a school launched a plot very close to ours. And then President Marcelinho [presidente de honra, Marcelo Calil Petrus] it brought us the possibility of doing Mestre Ciça”, reveals Tarcísio Zanon, carnival worker at Viradouro.
“We were very happy to pay this tribute, to tell the story of this great samba singer, an incredible story”, praises Zanon. “The research was really fun to do. [para construir o enredo]. Mestre Ciça is very accessible, very close to us.”
Mestre Ciça’s story will be told in 23 wings by up to 3,500 members. They will sing “If I’m going to die of love, let it be in samba/ I’m Viradouro, where art consecrated him/ We don’t wait for nostalgia to sing/ From the master of masters, I inherited the drum”as the chorus of the samba-enredo says Up, Ciça!a bow signed by 12 composers: Claudio Mattos, Renan Gemeo, Rodrigo Gêmeo, Lucas Neves, Rodrigo Rolla, Ronaldo Maiatto, Bertolo, Silvio Mesquita, Marcelo Adnet, Thiago Meiners, Anderson Lemos and Sandrinho.
Discover the plots and order of parades of the Rio de Janeiro Special Group
1st day – Sunday (15/2)
- Academics from Niterói – From Alto do Mulungu Hope Arises: Lula, the Worker of Brazil;
- Empress Leopoldinense – Chameleon-like;
- Portela – The Mystery of the Prince of Bará;
- Mangueira First Station – Mestre Sacacá do Encanto Tucuju – the Guardian of the Black Amazon
2nd day – Monday (16/2)
- Independent Youth of Father Miguel – Rita Lee, the Patron Saint of Freedom;
- Hummingbird of Nilópolis – Bembé do Mercado;
- Unidos do Viradouro – Up, Ciça;
- Unidos da Tijuca – Carolina Maria de Jesus.
3rd day – Tuesday (17/2)
- Tuiuti Paradise – Lonã Ifá Lukumi;
- Unidos de Vila Isabel – Macumbembê, Samborembá: I dreamed that a Sambista dreamed of Africa;
- Grande Rio Academics – The Mangrove Nation;
- Salgueiro Academics – The delirious carnival journey of the teacher who was not afraid of witches, cod or the wooden-legged pirate.
