A vibrant Afro-Brazilian procession will march through the Cremação neighborhood of Belém on Saturday, October 21, as part of the Nzinga project, which transforms traditional African cultural expressions through music. The event is scheduled to begin at the Centro de Estudos e Defesa do Negro no Pará (Cedenpa) and is open to the public, emphasizing community participation. This procession caps off a week of immersive experiences that intertwine dance, singing, and percussion to honor African Brazilian traditions.

The Nzinga project, initiated by the Pará percussionist Brena Corrêa, aims to empower women through African music education. Corrêa highlights the challenges of assembling a diverse group of women, especially Black women, to form a percussion cultural group, and recognizes the Ilú Obá de Min group from São Paulo as a significant influence. Their involvement sheds light on the importance of female musicians in preserving and performing Afro-Brazilian musical heritage, which has often been marginalized.

This event not only showcases the rich cultural tapestry of Afro-Brazilian traditions but also acts as a platform for fostering solidarity among women musicians. It acknowledges the role of collective empowerment through cultural expression and serves as a reminder of the ongoing significance of these traditions in contemporary Brazilian society, where the promotion of diversity and representation is more crucial than ever.