The world-famous Rio Carnival is a dazzling spectacle of music, dance, and culture, but few people know that its roots trace back to a Black woman named Aunt Ciata, also known as the Guardian of Samba.
Born in Bahia, Aunt Ciata or Tia Ciata, born Hilária Batista de Almeida moved to Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa neighborhood in the late 19th century, bringing with her the Afro-Brazilian rhythms and traditions that would later define the city’s carnival culture.
At the time, Brazil’s elite feared samba, associating it with Black communities and African heritage.
Despite this, Aunt Ciata’s home became a hub for musicians, dancers, and cultural revolutionaries, helping to preserve and elevate samba.
Her legendary week-long parties laid the foundation for Samba Carioca, the signature style of Rio’s Carnival.
A Turning Point for Afro-Brazilian Culture
One of Aunt Ciata’s most remarkable contributions came when she miraculously cured a Brazilian president’s infection in just three days using Afro-Brazilian spiritual traditions like Candomblé.
This act helped legitimize and integrate Black cultural practices into mainstream Brazilian society.
Visitors to Rio’s Little Africa and Samba City can explore her influence through immersive tours, where they can try on traditional costumes, learn samba, and visit the Carnival Museum in Salvador de Bahia, which showcases the history of Black resistance through celebration.
