Bloco Unidos Venceremos celebrates 20 years of tradition in Vila Madalena.
Baptized by Seu Nenê da Vila Matilde and blessed by Mestre Moa do Katendê, the bloco brings sambas and ijexás to the streets of São Paulo's carnival.
247 - The Unidos Venceremos bloco completes 20 carnivals this Saturday (22) on the streets of Vila Madalena, West Zone of the capital of São Paulo. With sambas and ijexás, the group leaves Bar do Baixo, at 14 pm, and also has a second parade on Zé Pereira Saturday.
Story - The Unidos Venceremos (United We Will Win) bloco was founded in 2005 with the mission of promoting unity, reviving the joy of old street carnivals, and spreading Afro-Brazilian rhythms such as samba, ijexá, samba reggae, and others. Since then, the bloco has lived to see its dream become a reality and the streets of São Paulo reclaimed by a joyful and democratic celebration.
The heart of the bloco (carnival group) is the Bateria Destemida do Forte (Fearless Drumline of the Fort), founded by maestro Gabi Toledo, who, after several years playing in samba schools, decided to found a street bloco with his friends, family, and neighbors, on the alley where he lived in Vila Pompeia, Travessa Forte do Cravatá (from where the "Forte" in the name of the drumline comes).
Gradually, the fun became serious and attracted people from various places, and the group was soon christened by none other than Seu Nenê de Vila Matilde, who recognized in Unidos Venceremos a street association that honored the memory of São Paulo samba.
In addition to singing traditional songs, the group has always made a point of presenting its own songs, which emerge year after year from its prolific group of composers that includes poets from different generations, such as Mestre Gafanhoto and Lello Di Sarno.
The gatherings of musicians, composers, and percussionists from Unidos Venceremos were so intense that the Bateria Destemida even gave rise to another bloco, its younger sibling, Kaya na Gandaia, which became an important bloco in the São Paulo street carnival from 2013 onwards.
In 2017, the group met another great master, Môa do Katendê, to whom Gafanhoto dedicated the beautiful song "Viva Môa". That year, the man who would soon become – for a tragic reason – one of the symbols of the fight against fascism in Brazil, departed with Unidos Venceremos and left his legacy in the group's history, which to this day carries with immense pride the honor of having paid tribute to Mestre Môa while he was still alive.
This year, the bloco (carnival group) celebrates 20 years of samba and ijexá music with its two parades: the pre-carnival parade in Vila Madalena, and the carnival parade in Pompeia.
UNITED WE WILL WIN!
22/02 - United We Will Win in Vila Madalena - Rua Girassol, 67 - starting at 13 PM
01/03 - United We Will Win in Pompeia - Rua Tucuna, 937 - starting at 13 PM
