batuque

Batuque, from the Portuguese batuque, is a term used for several Afro-diasporic musical and dance traditions that center percussion and communal participation. The practices share roots in African rhythmic cultures carried to the Atlantic world during the slave trade and today appear in multiple countries, most notably Brazil and Cape Verde.

In Brazil, batuque refers to Afro-Brazilian percussion ensembles and associated dance forms found along the coast, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Maranhão. The tradition emphasizes polyrhythmic drumming, call-and-response singing, and a participatory circle, with a lead drummer setting tempo and others responding with claps or voices. The repertoire draws on African-derived rhythms and has been linked to Candomblé and other Afro-Brazilian religious practices, as well as secular cultural expression. Variants differ by region, and modern groups continue to perform in festivals, cultural centers, and academic contexts.

In Cape Verde, batuque is a traditional music and dance form that forms an important part of the archipelago’s cultural identity. It is typically performed in community circles and, historically, has involved women as principal performers. The performance combines percussive accompaniment with vocal exchanges and rhythmic clapping, producing a distinctive driving groove that reflects Cape Verde’s mix of African, Portuguese, and Creole influences.

Scholarly attention to batuque emphasizes its syncretic origins and its role in social and religious life, as well as its persistence in contemporary music and dance across the Atlantic world.