Quilombo Axé (Dia de Negro)

Afoxé Oyá Alaxé's song 'Quilombo Axé (Dia de Negro)' is a powerful anthem that celebrates Black identity and resilience while condemning historical and contemporary forms of racial oppression. The song opens with vivid imagery of a Black singer taking up his viola, a symbol of cultural expression and resistance. The reference to the 'senzala,' the quarters where enslaved Africans were forced to live, and the act of setting fire to the 'engenho,' or sugar mill, evoke a sense of rebellion against the brutal conditions endured by enslaved people. The repeated call to 'dance, Black Nagô' underscores the importance of cultural preservation and joy as acts of defiance.

The chorus urges Black brothers and sisters to embrace their race and color, celebrating the beauty created by Olorum, a deity in the Yoruba religion. This call to unity and pride is a central theme, inviting everyone to join the 'quilombo axé,' a spiritual and cultural refuge, to dance the Nagô, a traditional African dance. The song connects this cultural celebration to the origins of Carnival, a significant event in Brazilian culture, highlighting the African roots of this festivity.

A critical aspect of the song is its denunciation of racism and the 'Brazilian Apartheid.' The lyrics explicitly reject the notion that May 13th, the day marking the abolition of slavery in Brazil, is a day for Black people. Instead, the song suggests that true liberation and recognition come from within the community, through cultural pride and resistance. The repeated phrase 'quilombo axé colofe colofe colofe Olorum' serves as a spiritual chant, reinforcing the connection to African heritage and the divine.