In February, three members of Masamba visited Rio de Janeiro for two weeks, to witness the preparations for carnaval 2019. Most of this trip was spent at workshops or attending the open rehearsals of the most famous samba schools, where there is a great opportunity to see musicians in action up close. The trip was highly successful, and some of the material we saw being rehearsed has been incorporated into the Masamba set.
We also used the time to meet with Consul General in Sao Paulo, and the new Irish Ambassador to Brasil Sean Hoy, at a reception in Rio de Janeiro. At these meetings, we discussed the possibility of enhanced partnerships between Masamba and Brasilian samba schools, and the possibility of a collaborative project in the future.
Mestre Nilo of the famous Portela Samba School with members of Masamba.