The Viradouro samba school wins the Rio 2024 Carnival, securing its third title, in a dazzling display of color and culture.
This year’s carnival saw several samba schools paying tribute to Afro-Brazilian heroes and indigenous peoples to address racism in the country. The Viradouro samba school, in particular, aimed to highlight Brazil’s historical ties with Benin, the origin of many slaves forcefully brought to Brazil.
The school’s parade centered on the strength of black women and featured a sacred snake from Benin, making it the last and winning performance after four nights of parades.
The parade earned the Viradouro samba school the highest possible score of 270 points from the jury. Criteria such as theme, percussion, parade evolution, floats, and costumes were considered in determining the champion of the carnival.
The captivating presentation unfolded with an immense articulated snake, a symbol from Benin, representing the sacred serpent venerated by Mino warriors from the Dahomey kingdom. Snakes played a significant role, not only as floats but also in the headgear of the dancers.
The kaleidoscopic tribute to the strength of black women left a lasting impression, as Viradouro closed out Brazil’s pre-Lent party season.
The victory marked the samba school’s third win, with previous triumphs in 1997 and 2020. Reigning champions Imperatriz Leopoldinense secured the second-place spot.
