RIO DE JANEIRO — Anitta, a prominent figure in both Brazil’s music scene and internationally, is set to take on the country’s grandest stage: the Sambadrome. Stepping into a new role, the 31-year-old is proving her mettle by joining forces with some of Brazil’s most revered samba icons as she becomes a songwriter for a Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro.
This year, Anitta has joined the songwriting team for Unidos da Tijuca, a prominent samba school and the first to perform on the Sambadrome avenue this Monday. The event spans over three thrilling nights of parades. For each samba school, it is essential to have a signature song played on repeat for up to 80 minutes, capturing the essence of the theme depicted through their elaborate costumes and floats.
Logun Edé, a figure of significance in Afro-Brazilian religion and the deity featured in Unidos da Tijuca’s theme, reverberates in the samba written this year. This deity represents nature’s force as believed in Candomble, a religion practiced by Anitta despite controversy among some followers. “With intense brightness/ I challenge the consensus/ restless and intense/ I am Logun-Edé,” the samba chorus echoes, encapsulating the spirit of the young warrior, Logun Edé. Participants paraded through the Sambadrome, adorned in vibrant yellow and blue hues representing Unidos da Tijuca, and embodying both the deity and Borel Hill — the samba school’s home turf, often marred by conflict between law enforcement and criminal elements.
Within the samba school’s creative circle, Diego Nicolau highlighted Anitta’s commitment, noting how she remained connected via digital meetings as her globe-trotting lifestyle brought her performances in New York and Europe. Demonstrating her dedication to the project, Anitta set up a makeshift studio in her hotel rooms to contribute her voice to the winning samba.
Anitta’s Carnival journey ignited in Salvador, where she led throngs of exuberant fans, showcasing the Brazilian tradition of electric trios with fellow artists—music-blaring vehicles that transform streets into concerts accessible to all. Following this, she drew an impressive 550,000 attendees to a street event in Sao Luis in Brazil’s northeast.
Despite not being present as Unidos da Tijuca took over the Sambadrome, Anitta shared moments of her journey from Sao Paulo through videos in her van, engaging in festive song and dance to her own samba composition. Fans expressed their disappointment on social media, questioning her whereabouts and voicing their hopes to see her perform live.
As the competition progresses, Rio’s Carnival results will be eagerly anticipated on Wednesday, with all 12 elite samba schools vying for victory. A triumph for Tijuca would elevate Anitta into the echelon of Brazil’s leading music writers who have conquered this challenging genre. Yet, even placing in the top six would secure Anitta’s further participation in the esteemed “Parade of Champions” on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Anitta is also gearing up to host a street block party, drawing an anticipated crowd of over 100,000. Despite her packed schedule, Anitta confidently shares that these events are organized well ahead of time, as she won the Tijuca samba contest back in September. She assures everyone that historical moments lie ahead, with unwavering confidence in her involvement with the samba school despite prior commitments.
