Anderson Sa’ 1979- An Instrument of change Leo R. Sandy

Sa’ Cont’d By age 12 Sa’ had seen many murders and was involved in selling drugs in a Brazilian favela His brother’s murder prompted him to begin changing his life That change began with Sa’s formation of a band called AfroReggae with him as the lead singer Selling drugs was a main form of employment for youth in the favela as they could make $650. a week compared to $13. for being a laborer Most drug traffickers were killed before age 25

Sa’ cont’d Between 1987 and 2001, over 4000 young drug sellers were killed After his brother was killed by the police, he asked himself, “How do I end violence?” He then wrote a song called To Bolado (I’m overwhelmed) and that brought him to see that music could be an instrument of change AfroReggae News was written by a young man, Jose’ Junior from the favela, and it focused on popular music and nonviolent role models

Sa’ cont’d Sa’ and Junior worked together to use music as a way to reach favela residents

Sa’ cont’d They started giving drumming lessons to favela youth by using old oil cans and plastic jugs The group taking these lessons formed a band called AfroReggae, and Sa’ became its lead singer The band mixed reggae, hip-hop, rap, and samba and used lyrics that spoke against violence More youth joined the drumming lessons and learned the lesson that creative abilities can also provide a good income

Sa’ cont’d The participants had to follow strict rules – no drinking, smoking, or taking drugs AfroReggea eventually turned from a band to a movement The Grupo Cultural AfroReggae was established along with a community center. There other bands forms and new programs were offered – dance, soccer for children, domestic violent prevention, and others Even a drug lord praised the program!

Sa’ cont’d After a while, AfroReggae was doing professional concerts at other favelas with audiences up to 50,000 people It also received grants from large U.S. foundations, and signed a contract with Universal Records to release a new album, Nova Cara (new face) After a serious accident in which Sa’ was almost paralyzed, he went back on stage The band went on to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York

Sa’ cont’d The band released its second album, Nenhum Motiva Explica a Guerra (Nothing Justifies War) A film was also made called Favela Rising, and it was named Film of the Year by the International Documentary Association In 2006 the band opened for the Rolling Stones on Rio’s Copacabana beach with an audience of 1.5 million people Later the band joined with other organizations aimed to reduce gun violence around the world

Sa’ Cont’d At one point, 150 teens in the band earned enough money to be the top earners in their household The number of drug dealers in Sa’s favela, Vigario Geral, dropped from 150 to 20 with none being local The movement spread to 9 other favelas Now music is heard more than gunfire in these favelas

Sa’ Quotes And it was through music that we appeared. Through music we changed our reality This is what we want to multiply (through AfroReggae), this thinking, to do the best you can for your fellow human beings I think there is a revolution you do inside yourself, and there is another revolution you do in the minds of people I started seeing the similarities between my paralysis and the community. People have to believe that this is a reversible situation. They have to understand that this is possible

Video AfroReggae Makes a Change in Brazil’s Favelas

Refererence Beller, K., & Chase, H. (2008). Great peacemakers: True stories from around the world. Sedona, AZ: LTS Press