IIn the middle of the night, dozens of masked people burst into the streets in bright colors, clutching sticks with rubber balls hanging from them. Bouncing through the raucous crowd of onlookers, he repeatedly slams the ball into the ground with a dull thud that is drowned out by the crackling of fireworks overhead.
These are Rio de Janeiro Batebolas, or ball slammer. Away from the glittering Sambordrom parades and seaside street parties in a working-class suburb, the pre-Lent revelry is dominated by clown-like figures, dressed in seductive costumes and playful costumes. They can equally entertain or frighten with certain antics.
“This is our escape valve. When we slam the ball, we scream, we release our energy, we let it all out,” he said 20 years ago. Batebola A group of satellite cities, Niropolis, northwest of Rio.
“Batebola Culture helps us build bonds of friendship and brotherhood. “We consider ourselves a family,” Agnello added, speaking of a group of 140 men in head-to-toe costumes who roam the streets to funk music in the favelas during Carnival. he said, wearing a winged mask, adding that its roots are part of the tradition. Researchers believe it dates back to medieval Celtic rituals in Portugal.
Some groups are replacing balls with flashy parasols, and more women are taking part in what was originally a men’s pastime. Agnello’s band was named Bombardio do Paiol (Bombardment from Paiol), after an old gunpowder factory in the neighborhood, and has a sister group called the Bombardets.
“This is a culture that ultimately mixes together different elements and adapts over time,” said Gustavo Lacerda, a cultural producer who has studied Rio’s sports. Batebolas. “Today is, Batebolas [exist] They exist in many forms, but they are united in their luxury.
It’s got all the elements: brightly colored feathers, giant puff sleeves, intricate sparkly details, patterned tights, and brand new sweatshirts with labels still on. BatebolasThe themed costumes, which the group spends months handcrafting, can cost more than each member’s monthly minimum wage (around £215).
It was decorated with characters from The Lion King, Buddha, Pablo Escobar, and more. Batebola This year, costumes will be held on the streets of Niropolis. Bombardios chose an anti-racism theme in honor of footballer Vinicius Joniol.
“This is a necessary theme,” said Michel Eduardo, 24, as he decorated the group’s flagpole a few weeks before Carnival. “All of us here are black, including our family,” added Alex de Jesús, 36, as he threaded rubber bands through dozens of rompers.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands. Batebola There are groups of varying sizes across Rio, and although they were recognized as part of the city’s cultural heritage in 2012, they remain largely unknown. carioca They are excluded as hooligans from the wealthy southern regions.
“It’s a bias,” Lacerda said, explaining that mainstream media always negatively focuses on the conflicts between rival groups rather than the year-round work and discipline that goes into this cultural tradition.
“It’s just a fun little game. No one should say that. Batebolas He’s a thug. I think it’s beautiful,” said Antonio Fernando, 67, grandfather of Vinesius Jonior, a Nilopolis local who came to Saturday’s carnival to see his grandson’s glittering appearance in a Bombardio costume. said.
The atmosphere was frenetic as the group prepared for their climactic exit in their local neighborhood. After more than 40 children’s miniatures Batebola The children’s versions of the costumes were gone by midnight, when nearly 150 men packed into sport coats, donned elaborate, bulky costumes and sprayed themselves with a sickeningly sweet perfume created just for the event. The sound of balls slapping was replaced by an almost reverent silence as Agnello, known as Bruno Bombardio, called in his “family” for words of encouragement.
A few minutes later, a year of anticipation was over. Lucas Silva, 25, described the moment as “a surreal, surreal thrill.” Batebola It faces the street. “Only those who have experienced it can understand.”
