Many early composers were thought to be leaders of African cults and for this connection, samba faced policed persecution. Any Samba gathering was swiftly shut down, with musicians arrested and their instruments destroyed. As a result, Samba had to go underground; it relied on community members to assume the risk of persecution to have Samba parties out of their homes. Ultimately samba became a hallmark of Brazilian culture, highlighted at Carnival, but it was not always that way, as in its origins practicing samba was defiance against the government. Roots of Rio Carnival During colonial Brazil, many public Catholic events used to attract all social segments, including Black and enslaved peoples, who took advantage of the celebrations to make their own manifestations, such as the crowning revelry of the Congo kings and the cucumbis (Bantu revelry) in Rio de Janeiro. Gradually, these exclusive celebrations of the black people were being disconnected from Catholicism ceremonies and changed to the Brazilian Carnival. From the cucumbis, the "Cariocas cordões" emerged, which presented elements of Brazilianness – like Black people in indigenous dress. At the end of the 19th century, on the initiative of Hilário Jovino, from Pernambuco, ranchos de reis (later known as carnival ranchos) emerged. One of the most important ranches in Rio's carnival was Ameno Resedá. Created in 1907, the self-titled "rancho-escola" became a model for carnival performances in procession and for future samba schools born in the hills and suburbs of Rio.
Many early composers were thought to be leaders of African cults and for this connection samba faced policed persecution Any Samba gathering was swiftly shut down with musicians arrested and their instruments destroyed As a result Samba had to go underground; it relied on community members to assume the risk of persecution to have Samba parties out of their homes Ultimately samba became a hallmark of Brazilian culture highlighted at Carnival but it was not always that way as in its origins practicing samba was defiance against the government Roots of Rio Carnival During colonial Brazil many public Catholic events used to attract all social segments including Black and enslaved peoples who took advantage of the celebrations to make their own manifestations such as the crowning revelry of the Congo kings and the cucumbis (Bantu revelry) in Rio de Janeiro Gradually these exclusive celebrations of the black people were being disconnected from Catholicism ceremonies and changed to the Brazilian Carnival From the cucumbis the "Cariocas cordões" emerged which presented elements of Brazilianness – like Black people in indigenous dress At the end of the 19th century on the initiative of Hilário Jovino from Pernambuco ranchos de reis (later known as carnival ranchos) emerged One of the most important ranches in Rio's carnival was Ameno Resedá Created in 1907 the self-titled "rancho-escola" became a model for carnival performances in procession and for future samba schools born in the hills and suburbs of Rio