On a sunny Rio de Janeiro afternoon, in one of the city’s hillside Favela communities, Ricô Santana, Rafa Dias and Boima Tucker sat trading Youtube clips of grime MCs in the UK, footwork dancers in Chicago and trap producers in Atlanta, building a friendship that would develop naturally into a creative collaboration. From the vantage point of that hillside, consuming the output of various international black music scenes, the group realized that they shared a desire to use music to celebrate Africa’s contribution to world culture. So they embarked on a journey to create an album, with lyrics in French, English and Portuguese, and with references to a diversity of black rhythmic genres in order to help bridge the gaps that normally separate people of African descent around the world.

This project arrives during an important time for Afro Brazilian people. For centuries, black Brazilians have struggled to gain equal rights and recognition for their contribution to society. Transnational solidarity has been hampered by the general viewpoint that Africa is a place of ancestry, not contemporary connection. During the years of the economic boom under the PT government, Afro Brazilians saw positive change and advances in social status thanks to educational and economic reforms. However, the corruption that pervaded behind the scenes of this era led to a political backlash, and the Brazilian political right seized power. Afro and Indigenous Brazilians took much of the brunt of attacks from reactionary politicians, culminating with the murder of Rio de Janeiro activist Marielle Franco.

Ziminino seeks to throw their lot in with the black consciousness movement that has grown in Brazil during the years of PT reforms. With aesthetic references to Afrofuturism, a cultural movement with transnational African liberation at its core, Ziminino believes that it is important to celebrate ones heritage, but at the same time realize that African culture is real, now and constantly shifting. Yes, Ziminino is Candomblé, Capoeira and Carnaval, but it is also 808 kicks, Congolese snares and black pride. This album brings to light the empowerment and beauty of African people seen through Brazilian lenses.

Ziminino

O Nosso Dia

La Vie

Chora Viola

Antes de Ontem

Espaço Tempo

I'm Cool Like That

When The Buildings Fall

Intermitência

Lagrima

Intro

Creative Quilombo. Celebrating the African archipelago via international collaboration.

Ziminino

INTL BLK™