Samba meets lion dance in Shuiwei

Video by Liu Xudong

A vibrant parade, specially choreographed to meld Brazilian samba with the Chinese lion dance, brought life to Shuiwei’s Cultural Block 1368 in Shenzhen’s Futian District on Saturday night.

The event was hosted by Brass House, a Brazilian-Dutch bar that has become a staple in the area over several years. The parade brought the infectious joyfulness and fervent passion of a Brazilian carnival to the local community, offering Shenzhen residents a taste of the exotic.

Commencing at 8 p.m., the celebration boasted a percussion band with both children and adults, alongside three samba performers and a lion dance team that weaved through the block’s narrow alleys. At various bars and bistros, they paused to perform, attracting onlookers who eagerly took photos and joined in the festive procession.

The carnival, a brainchild of Brass House, first came to fruition in 2019.

“One of our partners is from Brazil so we want to bring the Brazilian culture to China and share how the Brazilian people enjoy the carnival,” said Emmanuel Avemegan, known as Manu, co-partner of the bar, in a conversation with Shenzhen Daily before the festivities kicked off.

“It’s a fusion of Chinese and Brazilian cultures because we also invited a lion dance troupe to perform together. So the event is not limited to Brazilians; it’s for everyone who wants to enjoy the cultures,” Manu added.

Samba, a dance that originated from the synergy of African rhythms and Brazilian tunes, has swept from the animated streets of Rio de Janeiro to the worldwide spotlight, embodying joy, resistance, and the spirit of festivity.

At its essence, Samba is more than a musical style; it is an exuberant celebration of existence. With its irresistible rhythms, entrancing steps, and profound cultural significance, Samba narrates tales of affection, strife, and exultation. A symbol of endurance, it has risen to the status of a cherished emblem, honored across every stratum of Brazilian society.

The included pictures capture scenes of the parade, taken by Shenzhen Daily photographer Liu Xudong.