The Night of Black Beauty, which elects the carnival queen of the afro block Ilê Aiyê in Salvador, is more than a traditional beauty pageant. The judges evaluate the costumes, but also who dances and best represents Afro-Brazilian culture. This means that the ebony goddess does not take into account stature, slender measurements or Europeanized features. On the contrary, here the hair and hairstyles are up, the women are dark and the dance is afro.
The black beauty of the stage radiates from the audience that assembles with costumes and hairstyles worthy of Wakanda for what is considered “the most anticipated and starry night”, as the song “perfumed blacks” sings. So much so that a faithful audience was at Senzala do Barro Preto, at Curuzu, headquarters of Ilê, even with the wind competing with a powerful program at the Summer Festival on the same day and time. The wait, incidentally, was great since the last contest was in 2020, in the pre-pandemic.
The theme of Ilê Aiyê this year is Agostinho Neto (1922-1979), a doctor who was the first president of Angola and an important part of the liberation process of the African country of Portugal. The colors of the flag of Angola are the same as the print on the block: red, black, yellow and white. Buzios, straws and items like the berimbau complete the look of the candidates.
The entrance to the stage is rhythmic and many bring tracks or pieces that refer to the theme of the year. When the drums play, it’s time to show a more vigorous dance. In its 42nd edition, the contest had its first trans candidate in 2023, Laís Ferreira, who stressed that her participation opened up space for other trans women. “We can do whatever we want.”
Caroline Xavier de Almeida, on the other hand, was a victim of religious racism, when she was refused in a race by an application transport driver, claiming “not to transport people from macumba” when she saw the mounted candidate trying to go to one of the rehearsals. She came second in the contest.
The winner of the night was Dalila Oliveira, 20 years old, resident of Pernambués and daughter of Oxum. “I’ve wanted to for a long time, when I turned 18 I couldn’t compete because of the pandemic. Now I’ve managed, I feel accomplished, in redoing the history of my ancestors and contributing to raising the self-esteem of black women”.
The creator of the contest, Sergio Roberto, passed away last Sunday (22) and was honored during the night with the delivery of a trophy to his niece, who is now Secretary for the Promotion of Racial Equality in Bahia, Ângela Guimarães.
The president of Ilê Aiyê, Antônio Carlos Vovô, recalled the difficulty of the Afro blocks that still do not receive the attention and investment they deserve. Even though it was starred, the Night of Black Beauty, for example, was sponsored only by Bahia Gás, the government of the State of Bahia and Avon. Vovô, as he is known, also pointed out that the headquarters of the block, Senzala do Barro Preto, is a redefinition of what a slave quarters is “education, entertainment and empowerment”. He also highlighted the attractions of the night: Nara Couto, Afrocidade and Banda Aiyê.
Next Sunday (5th), Ilê will be rehearsing for Carnival, with the participation of Daniela Mercury. The new goddess will be crowned on Carnival Saturday (18th), by costume designer Dete Lima, when the traditional block leaves through the Curuzu neighborhood. As Ilê sings well: “42 years of history are not 42 days” and this contest makes us all feel like “the most beautiful of the beautiful”.
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