Every year, be.Living chooses a prominent Brazilian folk culture artist to be honored at our traditional Festa Junina. This year’s honoree will be Clementina de Jesus — an incredibly important singer in Brazilian folk music and also an invaluable guardian of Afro-Brazilian culture.
“Clementina de Jesus has a truly inspiring biography.” Born in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro, she is the granddaughter of people who were enslaved and the daughter of a woman who was born free, thanks to the Freedom of Womb Law. A direct descendant of Bantu Africans, Clementina grew up immersed in a rich cultural and musical tradition passed down from her mother. When she moved to the city of Rio de Janeiro, she would attend samba circles and began to absorb the musicality of the streets. Even though she didn’t have the chance to pursue an artistic career in her youth due to her having to work as a maid, Clementina kept these musical memories in her heart,” says Amanda Ribeiro, a music teacher at be.Living.
It was only at the age of 63 that Clementina de Jesus had the opportunity to be recognized as a singer and as a great preservationist of folk culture. She has recorded albums and performed alongside big names in Brazilian music such as Milton Nascimento, Paulinho da Viola and Alceu Valença. “Her legacy allows us to learn about and appreciate a vast Afro-Brazilian repertoire that could have been forgotten,” says teacher Amanda.
This year, the theme of the Festa Junina will be Celebrating the Black heritage of our culture with Clementina de Jesus. “With this theme, we just had to pay tribute to Clementina de Jesus. “It is thanks to her that we have access to this rich Afro-Brazilian musicality,” says Amanda.
The artist’s life and work are being introduced to students through recordings of Clementina de Jesus and two biographies: “Quelé, a voz da cor – biografia de Clementina de Jesus” and “Cantar era seu sonho – a história de Clementina de Jesus.” In elementary school, Clementina’s personal story and repertoire enter into dialogue with the children’s school curriculum, especially from Year 3 onwards, when students begin to study the formation of Brazilian society since colonization.
The families are also engaged in this celebration. They were invited to help decorate the party by creating Abayomis – black dolls that carry a strong symbolism of resistance, affection and care. “There are many legends about the history behind these dolls. One of them is that the Abayomis were made by the enslaved women from scraps of their clothes for the children to play with. They are an ancestral toy that represents resilience, love, playfulness and play, passed down through generations,” says Amanda.
Thus, be.Living’s Festa Junina 2024 will be a celebration not only of June traditions, but also of the deep black roots that enrich our culture. We hope that this tribute to Clementina de Jesus will inspire the entire school community to connect with the history and contribution of Afro-Brazilian culture, celebrating the diversity and richness of our origins.
Join us for this celebration full of meaning, where every detail has been carefully thought out to provide a memorable and enriching experience for everyone!
