Samba

The chugging rhythms of Samba traveled from the predominantly black state of Bahia in northern Brazil, down to Rio de Janeiro in the nineteenth century. There it spawned several offshoots, among them the loud, chanted Samba Enredo which powers annual Carnaval parades and competitions to this day, and Samba-Cancao, which features more complex harmonies and lyrics. Instrumentation (including the size of the percussion section) varies with style and place, but Samba roots are strong in its offspring: Bossa Nova, Tropicalia, and MPB (Brazilian pop). Samba itself is meanwhile alive, vibrant, and well at each year's Carnaval.