Carnival season has always been a lifeline for Vila Vintem, a community located in the western part of Rio de Janeiro. This year, the anticipation is even greater as the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school makes a historic return to the top samba parade league after nearly six decades. This ascension to one of Rio’s 12 elite samba schools presents an opportunity for recognition and prosperity, likely injecting substantial resources back into the community.
Last year, Unidos de Padre Miguel was part of the second division and consequently received around 900,000 reais ($150,000) from City Hall. This sum is considerably less than what top-tier schools receive through sponsorship deals, TV coverage, and assorted Carnival festivities. Their victory in last year’s festivities, however, secured them a place in this year’s grand parade.
With this achievement, the school has seen its budget soar to approximately 11 million reais ($2 million), with nearly 2 million reais stemming from municipal support, as explained by Dr. Willie Baracho, the samba school’s deputy chairman. In preparation for the event, a significant portion of these funds has been reinvested into the community, employing local seamstresses, carpenters, and welders.
The economic benefits in Vila Vintem are already evident, with several residents who were previously unemployed now able to afford new smartphones and household appliances. The samba school’s upcoming headquarters will soon host rehearsals and other community events, transitioning from a hangar-like space that has served as a crucial hub during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our samba school runs various projects, assists people, provides food, and organizes events for children,” shares Luana Borges, who now finds employment in costume preparation as Carnival approaches. Borges, once jobless, says the opportunities presented by the festival are invaluable.
Samba schools, mostly situated in working-class areas of Rio, engage in fierce competition at the Sambadrome parade venue. The Vila Vintem favela emerged approximately a century ago on flat terrain beside a developing railway. Initially dubbed as virtually worthless, with “vintem” meaning the lowest denomination in currency back then, essential services eventually developed, frequently after residents initiated the changes themselves.
Despite their newfound financial backing from Carnival, Unidos de Padre Miguel remains at a financial disadvantage compared to more established samba schools. Dr. Baracho acknowledges that larger schools have access to substantial corporate funding, drawing in as much as 18 million reais ($3 million) through their extensive networks during the Carnival season. While these institutions can afford top-tier coaches and performers costing well over 1 million reais, Padre Miguel remains focused on local employment and harnessing community talent.
“Our promotion was possible because of our investment in the community’s creativity and hard work,” Baracho states proudly, acknowledging the uphill battle they face. Unidos de Padre Miguel is set to inaugurate the parade on Sunday night, presenting a procession that will narrate the legacy of Iya? Nasso?, a pivotal figure in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions.
Experts contend that for emerging samba schools like Padre Miguel, the principal strategy should remain securing their division position rather than clinching the Carnival’s top accolade, which includes a revenue share from the Champions Parade’s ticket sales. Fátima Costa de Lima, a Carnival researcher, points out that ascending from the second division to win is rare and maintaining their status should be the aim.
Ingrid Lima Leal, a Padre Miguel veteran with over fifteen years of service, relishes seeing both job creation in Vila Vintem and the school’s participation in the lauded parade. “It’s worth every cent,” says the 66-year-old, hopeful for sustained presence in the high division. Sewing costumes in her workshop, Leal reflects on the “amazing emotion” of parading in attire she helped craft. “Carnival provides widespread employment,” she notes, underscoring the event’s significance beyond their locale.
