In the 16th century, the Portuguese began the colonization of Brazil. As the Portuguese began to intermingle with the natives, natives began to convert to Christianity, while the Portuguese cooperated with the native tribes to maintain control. As time progressed, the Portuguese built sugar mills and plantations, attempting to enslave those who already inhabited the New World, but Brazil’s natives fought back, capturing as well as ritualistically eating their enemies. After the Portuguese government saw that violence could not subdue the natives they resorted to other methods. Tomé de Sousa, the Governor General of Brazil in the 16th century, chose to treat the natives well instead of fighting against them. While many citizens voluntarily converted to Christianity, those who did not were to be enslaved. But when royalty in Portugal underwent change as did their morals, slavery became taboo. Suddenly a plague fell upon the indigenous people. The smallpox, flu, and measles exterminated large populations of natives, shortly following the plague was a famine. Due to the disparity many were forced to enslave themselves to in turn feed themselves . As the 16th century came to a close natives decided to relocate and so the Portuguese colonists were instead forced to import slaves from Africa. This is why Brazils culture is largely related and mirrors African culture in various aspects. (Geographic)
Samba on Your Feet gives us a behind the scene look at a culture rich of vibrancy and pride. A culture that stems from European and African roots. The documentary focuses primarily on Samba and the Carnival which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Throughout the film Haroldo Costa a journalist, writer, and historian gives us an inside look on the beautiful fusion that is Brazilian culture. He goes into depth explaining that the Portuguese did much more than merely import African slaves. He emphasized that with them they brought beliefs, music, and religion. African culture is evident in Brazils traditions. He explains that Samba was once frowned upon and judged with prejudice because of its African roots because it was primarily performed and appreciated by people of color in lower classes. When it was performed during Carnival in the streets of Rio Xango Mangueira, one of the interviewees, exclaims that he as well as his fellow performers were treated indignantly by the police officers in the streets of Rio. But he explains that Sambas endearing rhythms and contagious beats overcame social barriers and became popular among the white middle class as well. Another interviewee Mae, a priestess, shared how she integrated Samba into her Umbanda traditions and religious practices
During the 20th century turmoil and tragedy struck South Africa and Africa’s issues rooted much deeper than people believed. White supremacy and racial segregation was not something new to the inhabitants of South Africa. Conceptual incarceration haunted the black South African. In 1913, the Land Act was passed this act forced black South Africans to live within specific reserves designated by the government. So it was to no one’s surprise that in 1948 when the National Party gained power it began further oppressing the African individuals and enforcing policies that further drew a wedge between the two races. This policy of discrimination and segregation on grounds of race is known as apartheid. During this period Africans were forced to leave their communities and live within certain parameters set by the government away from all whites. Contact between the two races was rare, interracial marriage was banned, and the two races were to no longer intermingle. Black South Africans were stripped of their rights, their land and property was taken and sold to white rural farmers for cheap. Leaders opposing the Apartheid were thrown into jail with life sentences and those who decided to take a stand frequently died in rallies due to police brutality. (Staff)
Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony placed us into the shoes of rallying South Africans standing up against the White government’s apartheid. The movie highlights the importance of music throughout this revolution. Music was used as a form of resistance and encouragement. We encounter a number of individuals that lived through these circumstances. From musicians to protestors we take afoot on a journey like no other. The documentary expresses the importance of music throughout these years, underlining the fact that music was their main form of expression. Miriam Makeba a woman who lived through it and famous musician who was exiled during the 1960’s speaks of the horrors she witnessed during the apartheid in South Africa. She spoke of those who joined Mandela in rallies against the Apartheid, she shared that they suffered tremendous injuries, death, and in cases like hers were imprisoned/exiled. Despite the consequences people rallied throughout South Africa specifically in Sophia town, but were rudely awakened when riot officers responded violently. Abdullah Ibrahim, another musician, shared that the inhabitants of prospering villages were quickly forced to move into a government driven estate called Meadowland. The villagers remained hopeful despite being given every reason not to be, they insisted that the government did not understand that with the struggle also came strength, one of the men in the film says, “The struggle gave birth to the music”. Another quickly rebuttals him playfully saying, “Africans are always making music.” When the Sharpeville shootings became the topic of conversation the interviewees became somber, they said at that point in history everything took a turn for the worst. The black South Africans hope turned into anger and fear. In the Sharpeville shootings Riot officers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration. Citizens held the peaceful demonstration in response to the passing of unjust laws concerning the obligatory carrying of passbooks by every black South African citizen. On top of this horrific situation came the sentencing of Mandela to a life in prison which further shattered the citizen’s spirits. The people’s spirits changed and with that as did the music. The music transformed into songs of war, giving those who were fighting strength and courage. As the National Party fell through the cracks black South Africans were reinstated their rights and with this high note came the joyous release of Mandela. His release gave those who fought so long and hard against the Apartheid reassurance and pride.
Although it may not seem like it these two documentaries have a lot in common but also different. Both Samba on Your Feet and Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony involved African culture and how it influenced the people it touched. In Samba on Your Feet African culture touched Brazilian culture as a whole. Because of the importation of African slaves and the intermingling of Natives and slaves Brazilian culture incorporates both African and European customs. On the other hand, Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony African culture is the reason they stuck through it all. Without the hope and motivation that music and other African traditions provided they would not have been able to overcome all that they did. Both documentaries also portrayed music as a form of expression. In Samba on Your Feet music was a manifestation of their pride and representation of their roots. In Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony music was used to express a form political disobedience.
Both documentaries were executed very well with a variety of interviewees that shared their individual personal stories. This assured that neither movie was to only share one story but rather multiple. Each film also made their objectives very clear their use of imagery and music to make the audience feel a certain way was phenomenal. In one specific scene in Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony the producer panned a camera over the abandoned village while playing a slow sad sounding song invoking feelings of despair in the hearts of the audience. From watching both the documentaries you could blatantly tell what the director intended on making the audience feel and which stance to take. Their uses of testimony and video clips of horrific scenes made viewers forget there even was an opposing side.
Analyzing specific performances also revealed there was aspects in both movies worth comparing. First we are going to take a look at the Carnival performance in Samba on your Feet that was played in minute forty-five of the documentary and in Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony I will analyze Mandela’s welcome back concert played in the last few minutes of the documentary. The carnival is an enormous parade with thousands of people in bright exhibitionist costumes. The women wear bathing suit like tops and bottom embroidered and filled with reflective beads. Women dance samba as they continue forward, bopping from side to side their movement vary from section to section. But they all focus their movements on the lower half. The men in Carnival are only wearing a speedo like bottom and are completely covered in paint. The music played is upbeat and complex. The songs introduction begins with the use of instruments only; the players begin playing at a moderate pace in Carnival as if they are trying to prepare the audience. Then the heat kicks in, the chorus and verses are introduced as well as a choro band. In the song showcased you hear its emphasis on the melody its strong percussion and rhythm. The song is played in a 2/4 tempo and is ornamented with highly syncopated rhythms. (Music ) In the performance of Usilethela Uxolo, Mandela’s concert, in Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony the people of South Africa are jubilant and the music certainly reflects it. Its emphasis on voices is very evident as there are no instruments being played. But the people singing do indeed use their voices in distinct ways to make other sounds almost like mimicking instruments. Its cheerful melody has everyone dancing, swaying side to side and jumping up and down. The people performing are wearing bright colored clothing decorated with prints, stripes, and even buttons. (South Africa)
In regards to the specific musical performances showcased in both documentaries above there is an array of similarities and differences. Both documentaries exhibit brightly clothed people with lots of decorations. The performers in Brazil wear highly decorated bikinis with lots of bright colored beads as well as head dresses. Similarly, the performers in South Africa also wear these bright pieces of clothing with lots of prints that catch the audience’s eyes. Women performing in the concert were also wearing colorful wraps on their heads, almost like the Brazilian head dresses. Another similarity is the dancing, although they are certainly not exactly the same, they both focus on lower body movements . In both performances performers sway side to side and perform complex foot work accompanied by small movements of the shoulders and arms. On the other hand, there were also a few differences, the music for instance. In Brazils carnival the tempo is fast and really upbeat while the concert’s tempo is slower and moderate. Brazils carnival was also filled with percussion instruments. Instruments like the tamborims, shakers, timbal, snare drums, etc. (South Africa) In contrast the African concert showcased voices exclusively. Lastly the performance moods were distinct. Carnival was a different type of celebration and pride. In carnival the mood was light, the people were enjoying themselves and celebrating their culture. Whereas the black South African was more about celebrating the freedom they for so long fought for; the people were relieved and thus the song had that effect.