Our history
In 1997, the Brazilian artists’ collective was born in Lille, founded by Brazilian composer Toninho Almeida with the mission of promoting the diversity of Brazilian culture. The early years saw the creation of shows with Toninho Almeida & Mundo’s Band. The following years saw the release of albums, international performances and the expansion of the collective’s musical repertoire and line-up. In 2006, the association became a Brazilian music and dance school in Lille Fives, offering classes, original compositions and performances. Events such as the Carnaval Do Axé and Brazilian balls in Fives are part of their commitment to the neighbourhood.
La Barraca Zem became their flagship venue in 2009, and in the style of a samba school, the collective became involved in the Wazemmes district. Since 2010, the collective has been involved in solidarity projects in Brazil. In 2012, Toninho Almeida launched “Deu Forró no Samba” and became involved in popularizing forró in Lille, organizing the Lille Forró Festival from 2013-2015. The collaboration with lille3000 in 2015 gave rise to a street parade inspired by Brazilian carnivals. A new festival was born in 2016, Brasil Fusion Fest, marking the ongoing commitment to sharing Brazil’s cultural richness, this time blending capoeira with urban culture. The projects continue with the classic parades for neighborhood carnivals, upstream balls, the fête de la Saint Jean and summer events. For over 20 years, the collective has been on the move.
