Castro Alves, the poet for abolition of slavery in Brazil

Castro Alves, from the city of São Salvador, in the state of Bahia, in Brazil, had a short but meaningful life. There are parts of his most famous poem, Navio Negreiro, or Slave Ship that I have memorized, so many times I have read it.

He tried to study law, he went down south to Rio de Janeiro, women loved the young poet with a powerful voice for poems of prowess. Alas! Castro Alves died at age 26, of pulmonary complications.

In a recent development, maybe an attempt to make Brazilian youth more aware of its own cultural roots, Caetano Veloso recorded Navio Negreiro in a rap melodic recitation. I found this recording quite compelling. It's in a CD named Livro.

Actually, I believe the youth who go to public schools in Brazil should learn this poem by heart. Its description of the tragedy, despair, madness, inhumanity, horror of the slave ship is worth of a Greek tragedy. As was customary in those days, in the XIXth century, Castro Alves uses his vast knowledge, gleaned in books, to link the tragedy of Africans on a ship, bound to die or live in servitude to the freedom they once knew in their continent, vivid descriptions of both worlds, pleas to the gods, to the freedom fighters of the Americas...

Castro Alves, like most baianos, as we say in Brazil, knew his way with words. If you are interested in a version of Navio Negreiro, please click here.
Slave ship

Yes, words are powerful instruments of love and hate.

A quick update:

I just got a little pocket calendar for the month of July, in which the attempt for independence of São Paulo and Bahia are celebrated. And my birthday and the idependence of Argentina, on the 9th.

Anyway, the photo/pocket calendar was sent to me by Rogério Reis, the real/live from Rio-- Rogério Reis, whose photography inspired the photographer kid in City of God, the film and book. Rogério Reis exists, his better half and partner is my friend Mayra Rodrigues de Almeida, and their awesome photo catalog can be seen in awesome photos from Brazil by Tyba

Their English link is on top left of the site, once you cilck on the pocket calendar. I found the photo, by Rogério Reis and the quote, "What doens't kill me can only strengthen me," very inspiring, sobering, after all those days of jogo bonito.

B12 Partners has a huge collection of obituary.bio articles on Sid Barret, aka, Pink Floyd's "Shine on , Crazy Diamond." Check it out.