Neguinho da Beija-Flor announces departure from Carnival after 50 years: ‘Time is the enemy of perfection’

Considered the biggest samba school puller of recent decades, singer Neguinho da Beija-Flor will perform for the last time with the school that made him famous at Rio de Janeiro Carnival in 2025.

The announcement was made by the interpreter in an interview with TV Globo this Wednesday (20). In a letter published on his social networks, Neguinho explained that he wants to enjoy his life more after 50 years of involvement with Beija-Flor. He will continue his career as a singer in shows throughout Brazil.

“Time is the enemy of perfection. Time is wonderful. I’ve reached 75 years of age, 50 years of living together at the school that is my family, this moment is difficult,” said Neguinho in conversation with presenter Mariana Gross.

“After the 2025 carnival, which is a tribute to master Laíla, I end my career on Avenida da Marquês de Sapucaí. We die twice, when we really die and when we stop”, he stated.

Neguinho da Beija-Flor has been a performer at the samba school in Nilópolis, a city in the Baixada Fluminense, since 1975. Since then, he has won 14 carnivals, which made Beija-Flor the school that won the most titles during the period in which he was your leader.

As a singer, he has great hits such as O Campeão, played in all football stadiums in the country, unifying all fans, who always modify a part of the lyrics that says: “Sunday I’m going to Maracanã, I’m going to support the team I’m a fan of …”

Read his full farewell letter:

“The 2025 parade will mark my farewell as an interpreter of his anthems on Passarela do Samba.

Next Carnival, I will write, with the Nilopolitan community, the final point of the fifty-year journey, a time of great happiness and joy. Let’s cross the Samba Passarela for the last time, me with my voice and my usual pride, supporting the strength and magic of our community that shines on the altar of the bambas. It will be another moment of our eternal love.

I remember with emotion, dear school, the beginning of this story, when I arrived at a young age to participate in the samba contest, in the unforgettable “Dreaming with king gives lion”. Joãosinho Trinta, also recently arrived, had created the plot about the animal game and I, then Neguinho da Vala, dreamed of joining the composers wing. The late carnival artist allowed me to try – and it worked. With the samba composed by me, we were champions.

Since then, you have won 14 carnivals, and granted me the privilege of being present at them all. We were three-time champions twice, we carried the beggar Christ covered by censorship, in the best-known image of Carnival. And most importantly: we inserted Beija-Flor de Nilópolis into the history of the biggest popular festival in Brazil. Instead of the protagonist.

The Wonderful and Sovereign was consolidated, as it is in our exaltation hymn, “Deusa da Catwalk”, which I had the honor of composing. And it became his well-deserved nickname on the planet Carnival.

Because of you, I beat cancer, singing on the avenue while still undergoing treatment. I have faith that I was cured thanks to God and the blessed medicine of Carnival. I will never forget how the community welcomed me, when I returned to rehearsals, on our sacred court. The applause and the mountain of affection are forever tattooed in our memory.

For this reason and much more, I never considered receiving a salary from Beija-Flor. I never signed a contract or submitted myself to any bureaucracy. Our relationship is unique and requires no protocols. I often repeat that if anyone owes anything, it’s me to you, my school. I am very proud to carry it in my official name, the one on my identity card: Luiz Antonio Feliciano Neguinho da Beija-Flor Marcondes.

I treasure my first member’s card from the composers wing. The date is there, June 11, 1975, the beginning of it all. Of the original companions, the patron Anísio Abrahão David and the beloved Pinah are still here. We began together the adventure of leading a small school from Baixada Fluminense into the pantheon of the giants of our popular culture. And we got there, with the participation of many other samba artists who came later and will continue towards the future.

My time has come. In 2025, I will sing the exaltation of my partner Laíla – whom I met even before the first Carnival, at the legendary Bola Preta samba circle –, as an epilogue to this odyssey that lasted half a century of revelry and happiness. It far exceeded my wildest dreams. And I will continue to love you. You can count on me for all eternity.

Thank you for everything, my school, my life, my love.

Look at Beija-Flor there, guys!”