sambas

Sambas are pieces and performances within the Brazilian music genre samba. The plural sambas is used to refer to individual samba songs or dance numbers, as well as to groups of related pieces in a repertoire. Samba originated in Afro-Brazilian communities in Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century, drawing on older forms such as samba de roda from Bahia and on African rhythmic traditions with European harmonic influence. It became a defining element of Carnival culture with the emergence of samba schools in the 1920s and 1930s.

Musical structure is typically in 2/4 time, with a strong emphasis on the first beat and complex percussion. Common instruments include surdo, pandeiro, tamborim, repique, agogô, and chocalho; melodies are often supported by guitar, cavaquinho, or piano. Vocals frequently feature call-and-response patterns and social, romantic, or humorous lyrics.

Dancing ranges from solo footwork in samba no pé to partner styles such as samba de gafieira; substyles include samba de morro and pagode, which emphasize social performance, while samba-enredo and samba-canção describe song-centered forms. Over time, regional and urban variants have diversified the repertoire and performance practices.

Samba has had a wide global reach, influencing Latin and world music scenes and fostering dance communities in Brazil and the Brazilian diaspora. Notable figures associated with the music include Noel Rosa, Cartola, Ary Barroso, Paulinho da Viola, and Zeca Pagodinho, among others.