The dance of the sacred and the profane

Editor Adrian Schräder

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An invitation to a collective trance: Brazilian carnival is celebrated at Moods. Singer Dandara tells us what the custom means to her.

How did you spend Carnival this year?

Dandara Modesto: Mostly at home, with my daughter, listening to Brazilian Carnival music. We also watched some carnivals from different parts of Brazil: Afro-Blocos from Salvador, the parade of samba schools in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, or Maracatus and Galo da Madrugada in Pernambuco. To get us in the mood, we visited the children's carnival on Bullingerplatz, where Borumbaia, a Batucada group from Zurich, also performed. It was great to feel that carnival also releases the children's energy!

What does carnival mean to you?

Freedom. Dream. Creativity. Peace. Magic. The power of the collective. Carnival has a deep cultural and historical significance. It is the dance of the sacred and the profane. It is an Afro-Indigenous expression of richness and diversity. It is also political: Carnival has always been a platform for social and political activism, with Afro-Brazilian and indigenous communities using the festival as a means of resistance, empowerment and cultural affirmation. It is a time when people come together to express their creativity, joy, identity and belief in life.

In Zurich, the Brazilian carnival celebration only takes place on 24 February.

As I said, carnival is a dance between the sacred and the profane. It takes place beyond any authorisation. I would even say that the celebration is urgently needed here. It's a place to celebrate life, to set yourself free, with good music, with joy and glitter!

You perform with the Banda Tropikaos and interpret carnival classics. A one-off thing?

A two-off thing at least! We teamed up for Carnival at Moods last year - and it worked so well that we all wanted to do it again. I get to play with a bunch of highly talented musicians.

Tell us: what will be performed?

Only classics! The setlist is a marathon of Brazilian carnival. We travel through the diversity of this custom and bring in different regions, rhythms and sound colours.

The website says that you play Marchinha, Samba Rock, Axé and Ljexá. What is Ljexá?

Ljexá is a rhythm and a genre that comes from Afro-Brazilian culture. Originally, Ljexá is a people from Yorubaland who belong to the religious tradition of Candomblé.

You released the song called "Estrangeira" - meaning "foreigner" - a few years ago. Are you still one?

Yes, I am. And I think I'll always feel that way. But now I don't have a problem with it. I think the role of the "Estrangeira" in society is beautiful, important, necessary and tough - especially here in Europe. Of course, after seven years in Zurich, I also feel part of this place that I have learnt to love and that teaches me so much. But I'm too rebellious to fully integrate. And I think Zurich also wants me to preserve my identity.

In Zurich, you can now hear Brazilians on every corner. Is Zurich about to become a Brazilian city?
Watch out, we're everywhere! (laughs) There are simply very, very many Brazilians and they are well spread out all over the world. It's great that the presence here is growing: there are now many artists here from all kinds of places.

What song is a must at carnival?

"Faraó", composed by Luciano Gomes and immortalised by the divine Margareth Menezes.

The song is a must at carnival.

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