Updated on Jan. 28, 2012.
Few settings in Rio de Janeiro Street Carnival are as historically meaningful as the area near the port comprising the Saúde district, Praça Mauá and Morro da Conceição. And Saúde is the headquarters and the place of origin of Escravos da Mauá (Mauá Slaves), one of the best street Carnival blocos in town.
The name of the bloco pays homage to the slaves sold in the area's markets in the 18th and 19th centuries. After the Abolition of Slavery in 1888, former slaves settled down in the area as they got jobs in the port industry and found affordable housing in places such as Morro da Favela (now Providência), from which the general term favela has come from.
Escravos da Maua was founded in Saúde - a residential pocket in an otherwise business-oriented area - by friends who worked together at INT - the National Institute of Technology. The bloco parades and rehearsals are marked by root Carnival music. They're joined by locals, samba artists and a young crowd from Rio's beach districts with an appreciation of authentic samba and Carnival music.
The bloco colors are yellow and blue, but all colors and costumes are welcome. Like other blocos in Sebastiana (the Association of Street Carnival Blocos from the South Side, Santa Teresa and Centro, www.sebastiana.org.br), Escravos da Mauá has its own flag, flag bearer and MC, band, official t-shirt with a new logo every Carnival and a new theme samba every year.
Pre-Carnival 2011:
Street rehearsals (free) on Fri, Feb.4 and Fri, Feb.18, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Special Guests: Fabuloso Grupo Eu Canto Samba
Where: Local: Largo da Prainha, Centro (Praça Mauá)
All ages welcome
Pre-Carnival Parade 2012:
Sunday, Feb.12 (Sunday before Carnival week) at noonAll ages welcome
Starting Point: Largo da Prainha, Centro (Praça Mauá). The parade goes towards Praça Mauá, follows along Av. Rio Branco, takes Av. Visconde de Inhaúma, Marechal Floriano and goes back to Praça Mauá on Rua do Acre.
Other Sebastiana Blocos:
- Bloco da Ansiedade
- Bloco dos Barbas
- Bloco das Carmelitas
- Bloco de Segunda
- Bloco Virtual
- Gigantes da Lira
- Imprensa que eu Gamo
- Meu Bem, Volto Já
- Que Merda é Essa?
- Simpatia é Quase Amor
- Suvaco do Cristo
Apologies: An old schedule for Escravos has been removed.
