In the early days, musicians faced not only prejudice but harassment. In 1928, the first so-called “Samba School” opened in Rio, a club where musicians and composers could meet, rehearse and plan their activities for the city’s annual pre-Lent carnival, though the authorities banned black and mix-race carnival groups from parading through downtown, predominantly white Rio. 

 

Many of the early Samba songs were meant to size malandros, the sharply-dressed hustlers of the black communities, and the authorities outlawed musicians and their Samba parties. 

 

But all that would suddenly change. Samba was to be appropriated, transformed and used by the government. From now on, music will play a new role in Brazilian life.