Afro-Brazilian music

Afro-Brazilian music consists of a mixture of musical and cultural influences from Sub-Saharan Africa, Portugal, and on a smaller scale, Amerindian music, creating a large variety of styles. Lyrics, instruments, and even melodies often have connections to African culture and even influence culture and music in other countries today. It is strongly influenced by African rhythms. The most well known sub-genres of Afro-Brazilian musical genres are samba, marabaixo, maracatu, ijexá, coco, jongo, carimbó, lambada, maxixe, and maculelê.
Like every other part of the American continent where there were African slaves, music made by Afro-descendants was initially neglected and marginalized, until they gained their reputation at the beginning of the 20th century and became extremely popular in contemporary culture. This breakthrough came in part from the unique instruments that are used in Afro-Brazilian music including afoxé, agogô, alfaia, atabaque, berimbau, and tambor.
Nearly all Brazilian music is influenced by traces of Afro-Brazilian music, so much so that Afro-Brazilian artist Letieres Leite says that all Brazilian music is Afro-Brazilian.
There are many artists that influenced the Afro-Brazilian music and culture. Gilberto Gil is one of the most well-known Afro-Brazilian artists, not only because of his award-winning music, but also because of his political activism. In his career, he won two Grammys in the Best World Music Album category and received seven Grammy nominations. Other popular artists and groups include Pixinguinha, Abigail Moura, Nei Lopes, Agnaldo Timóteo, Racionais MC's and many more. These artists play many different genres including, but not limited to, samba, rap, jazz, rock, funk, reggae, and disco. Afro-Brazilian music was influenced by African instruments, rhythms, cultures, and beliefs that are still present in the day-to-day culture of Brazil.
The instruments used in Afro-Brazilian music vary depending on the genre being played. This being the case, a large amount of instruments exist that are unique to Afro-Brazilian music. These instruments include:
The instruments and rhythms that constitute came directly from African traditions by the slaves brought to Brazil. Candomblé is a tradition that became one of Brazil's oldest native religions. Candomblé is one of the original uses that slaves had for the instruments and rhythms we identify today as Afro-Brazilian. In the tradition of Candomblé, there is great reverence for Afro-Brazilian instruments and rhythms. During ceremonies of Candomblé, instruments like the Atabaque and Agogô are used to appease the Orixás. There is believed to be a spiritual power to these instruments and rhythms that entrance the listener to become more available to commune with the Orixás. There are also specific drum patterns and rhythms that can be used to call, ban, and interact with the Orixás. Afro-Brazilian music that was made in the circles of Candomblé eventually spread to help create early samba. Candomblé was seen as an inappropriate practice by the slave owners and the majority of Brazil. In Candomblé, dancing and music are sacred, so meetings would be disguised as parties to evade intervention. It was at these parties hosted by Tios and Tias (priests in Candomblé) where the first samba beats and dances were originated in the peripheries of Rio de Janeiro.
Capoeira's influence on Afro-Brazilian music is wide. There are many different types of capoeira performances, each one with a different beat to accompany the martial art. A few of these beats are: