Thursday, October 17, 1996
MUSIC:
Brazilian group mixes social activism with a dynamic soundBy
Jennifer Murray
Daily Bruin Contributor
Every now and again one encounters a band that is capable of
combining politics, education and inspiration with original rhymes
and rhythms. The Beatles did it. Bob Marley and The Wailers did it.
And Friday evening, Olodum will do it.
Olodum is a Brazilian percussionist ensemble that creates some
of the most dynamic and sought-after sounds around. In recent years
the group has worked with artists as esteemed as Paul Simon, Tracy
Chapman and Michael Jackson. On Oct. 18, at the Veterans Wadsworth
Theater, Olodum will bring its unique fusion of Brazilian-Bahian
samba and Jamaican reggae to L.A. for a single night of rhythm and
revolution.
Olodum promises to deliver some of the liveliest international
beats around. Rooted in traditional African samba, Olodum adds
several pop elements to its music in order to create a more
contemporary sound. Still, a first listening of Olodum conjures
tribal energies much akin to those generated by traditional Native
American ceremonial drumming.
The feel of Olodum is spontaneous. The relentless pulse of the
bass drum punctuated by rallying cries from the chorus sends the
listener into a spin cycle of vitality and romp. Audiences across
the country are catching on fast to the hip-shaking essence of
Olodum. Billy Arquimimo, spokesperson for the group, describes the
group’s recent performance at Arizona State University:
"Last night we had 2,500 people. Last night it was incredible
because there was a place where people dance and it was full of
people dancing. It was not just the Brazilians, but the Americans.
When people left the venue they were … electric because of the
rhythm. The rhythm is very, very good," Arquimimo says.
Music, however, is not the only thing that Olodum does well.
Since its establishment on April 25, 1979, Olodum has managed to
stir up a great deal more than dancing in Pelourinho, the
neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia where Olodum originated. Located on
the eastern coast of Brazil, Pelourinho was once plagued by rampant
prostitution, poor sanitation and a dwindling black morale.
Olodum sought to change all of that with its music, and in the
last 17 years, the band has been incredibly successful. "Our songs
are talking about love. They talk about revolution. They talk about
the social problems which we have in our society," Arquimimo says.
"After everything, the government understood that it was necessary
to change the face of Pelourinho, and now we don’t have
prostitution anymore. Pelourinho is completely renovated and it is
the special point of Salvador, Bahia."
Olodum pays particular attention to creating opportunities for
children. The organization, which consists of over 550 members at
present, has launched campaigns against AIDS and cholera, and runs
a school for small children and adolescents. The massive scale of
Olodum’s undertaking may appear daunting to some, but Arquimimo
explains Olodum’s project with a very deliberate
matter-of-factness. "It is necessary to have a kind of music to try
to make people listen more and to understand that it is necessary
to change their goals and not to be with their arms folded, but to
look to survive.
"We are very successful," Arquimimo notes, "because many of the
drummers … came from the children’s band. They know they have a
future and they understand that the aim of Olodum is not different
from the aim of Malcolm X, (or) Martin Luther King, (or) Bob
Marley. We are trying to play for freedom for everyone, and to
change the minds of people, and to try and recover the self-esteem
of the people as well."
The name "Olodum" stems from the Yoruba word "Olodumare" which
means "God of Gods" or "God Almighty." As one considers the social
agenda behind Olodum’s music, the group’s dramatic sound and
distinguished title appear all the more apropos. In a word, Olodum
is proud  proud to be black and proud to be alive.
A resilient statement of purpose such as Olodum’s has inspired
several Brazilian musicians to follow suit in the struggle for
social change and black pride. "Nowadays in Bahia we have many
black groups that are very popular. Now they feel proud to be
black," Arquimimo says.
Although Olodum’s achievements are impressive, Arquimimo readily
admits that the group has a long, and inevitably arduous trek
ahead. "We have many people not interested, many politicians, and
it is too bad because the government is still denying people and
they don’t understand. (We) are very sad," Arquimimo confides,
"because (we) are not successful in this other fight, but you have
to fight.
"What Olodum is trying to do is keep doing what we are doing,"
Arquimimo continues. "We do not want to stop our project. We want
to keep it. We want to continue to develop this kind of music and
this kind of a movement. Also, we want people not to forget that
black people are important in every way and they need to feel the
same as everyone and they need to look for freedom. So this is very
important for us now."
Olodum’s influence in the United States remains fairly limited.
Arquimimo hopes that will change in time. "We are not the same as
Prince and Michael Jackson," he concedes, "but if we start to do
what we are doing now, it will be easier and we are going to
conquer the United States." With any luck, Arquimimo’s prediction
will be fulfilled in the months ahead. Tomorrow night’s performance
is certainly a great place to start.
MUSIC: Olodum performs tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the Veterans
Wadsworth Theater. TIX: Range from $9 to $28. For more info, call
(310) 825-2101 or (213) 365-3500.
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC NETWORK
Olodum, a Brazilian music group, comes to the Veterans Wadsworth
Theater Friday.