Artist page

Orquestra Afro-Brasileira was a Brazilian orchestra established in 1942 in Rio de Janeiro. It operated for nearly thirty years until 1970 and released two albums during that time. Founded by a self-taught conductor and arranger named Abigail, the orchestra aimed to tell stories of Afro-Brazilian heritage and address the “dramas and tragedies experienced by my race.” Their performances celebrated significant dates and influential Black Brazilian historical figures, featuring a repertoire that included folk tales, Candomblé chants, and macumbas dedicated to orixá, the Yoruba deities sent by Olodumare for guidance in life. The orchestra comprised around twenty musicians, blending traditional Brazilian and West African percussion instruments such as Agogô, Afoxé, Ganzá, Atabaques, and Angona-puíta with the sounds of saxophones, trombones, clarinets, and piano from the big band jazz tradition.

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