As the vibrant rhythms of the samba fade into the night, marking the end of yet another electrifying Carnaval, the echoes of celebration linger in the air. In the shimmering glow of 2024, amidst the pulsating heartbeat of Brazil's most colourful spectacle, triumph finds its home. Emerging victorious from the spirited dance of the samba schools, the coveted crown of the parade belongs to none other than Unidos da Viradouro, hailing proudly from the enchanting city of Niterói.
Unidos da Viradouro’s origins was on June 24th, 1946, in the samba circles from the backyard of Nelson dos Santos (Jangada), a Carnaval and samba passionate who used to attend the block “União do Viradouro” until founded his own samba school. The name of baptism “Viradouro” was due to Jangada’s meeting point location, where the trams that transported the population of Niterói made their return, where they change the direction and begin their journey back to their starting point or depot. This is how they were linguistically referred by the locals (Viradouro).
Unidos da Viradouro’s colours are red and white with a crown and leaves’ branches beside it and an interracial handshake. These are full of symbolism. Initially, it was founded with the colours blue and pink, inspired by the attire of Our Lady of Help, the patroness of the school. Near where the association was founded, in the neighbourhood of Santa Rosa, stands the Basilica of Our Lady of Help. For this reason, the saint was chosen to be the patroness of the school. The samba school was founded on the day of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the city of Niterói. Therefore, the saint was also chosen to be the patron saint of the association. The handshake is a symbol of unity from its members.
Unidos da Viradouro’s first notorious parade goes back in 1991 at the Carioca scene. This Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is the foreigner’s postcard and prestigious event in Brazil, transmitted by the most popular broadcaster Rede Globo since 1965. Previously, they paraded on the Niterói’s basis, which was the capital of Rio de Janeiro’s state until 1974 and they won and were vice-champions a few times. On their debut, they paid a homage to Dercy Gonçalves, who is known as pioneering female comedian that defied societal norms in terms of gender, active from 1930s to 2000s.
In the following year, Viradouro’s parade is remembered due to a fire. Carnaval after Carnaval, Unidos da Viradouro got a prominent position as vice-champions or in the top 10 with varied homages to icons and events, not necessarily Brazil-centric.
In 1997 was the year they debuted their first place in the Carioca scene. The gold was due to its reinterpretation of the genesis of the universe through the contrasts of light and darkness emulating a cosmic explosion.
In the 2014 Carnaval, Unidos da Viradouro won another 1st place, when the samba school admired its roots, Niterói. While in the 2018 Carnaval, Unidos da Viradouro got gold again with celebration to creative personalities and visionaries in different areas like art, science, literature, music, among others.
The 2020 pandemic did not stop the tambourines to play. Their parade prior to the COVID restrictions honoured the life of Maria Bethânia, highlighting her contributions to popular music and her cultural importance through references to her career.
Its career was not idyllic. In 2010, Viradouro was disqualified due to a series of technical and organizational problems during its parade. These problems included delays in entering the avenue, issues with floats, and failures in executing the parade, resulting in a performance below the expected standards by the judging criteria. In 2014, Viradouro was disqualified after receiving penalties for exceeding the maximum allowed time for the parade. Samba schools have a limited time to cross the avenue during their parades, and Viradouro exceeded this time, resulting in penalties that affected its final score and its ranking in the parade.
In 2024, the Viradouro Samba School celebrated another triumph with their theme focusing on the rich history of the Dambê vodun cult. Originating from West Africa, this spiritual tradition traveled to Brazil, symbolized by the presence of a royal python. The storyline highlighted the journey of this sacred practice and the important role of priestess Ludovina Pessoa in establishing temples in Bahia, where the vodun rituals were preserved.The presentation also highlighted the unique cultural blend in Brazil, resulting in the formation of Jeje Candomblé, a fusion of African, indigenous, and European spiritual beliefs. This syncretic tradition showcases the vibrant and diverse spiritual landscape of Brazil, emphasizing the resilience and enduring legacy of the Dambê vodun cult in both African and Brazilian history.
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