São Paulo – With a career spanning ten-plus years and two albums under her belt, singer Adriana Moreira from São Paulo is the only non-African and non-Arab artist selected for the Visa for Music festival, in Morocco. The event features musical performances and opportunities in the music business for the bands, and is set to take place from November 12th to 15th in Rabat.
Moreira has been selected from among 600-plus candidates from over 50 countries to perform at the Moroccan festival. “Adriana has a strong connection with ancestrality, black issues and the Afro scene in Brazil,” says the singer’s producer Geraldo Campos.
According to Campos, the artist’s participation in Visa for Music would enable “closer cultural ties with Arab and African countries,” which he considers a largely untapped field for Brazilian singers.
In addition to live performances, Visa for Music allows the participating artists to get in touch with producers and other art industry professionals from various countries. “This can help the musicians book tours, including in partnership with artists from other countries, and can also attract [international] interest in our samba,” says Campos.
However, Moreira’s participation has not been confirmed yet. The singer and her group need sponsorship for air tickets and lodging. “They need seven days’ worth of lodging and nine tickets,” says Campos. The organizers of Visa for Music only offer two nights’ stay and local transportation within Rabat.
Without financial aid, Moreira will not be able to participate in Visa for Music. Campos is seeking financiers and underscores the importance of Moreira’s participating in the Moroccan event. “Apart from the chance to perform for the local audience, this could pave the way for other Brazilian musicians,” he notes.
The producer explains that in return for the sponsorship, the group can play concerts with requested repertoires, perform at public spaces or deliver workshops on music and African percussion, among other possibilities.
The festival will also feature conferences to discuss the global music scene, including potential partnerships between Africa and Latin America.
In Brazil, Moreira and her musicians perform every month at São Paulo’s Mário de Andrade Library. Provided that they find a sponsor, they will play alongside musicians from Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tunisia and Mauritania, among others.
To learn more about Adriana Moreira’s work, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WzG3zvyc88. Her CDs are titled Direito de Sambar (2006) and Cordão (2014).
To discuss sponsoring the singer and her band’s trip, please contact Geraldo Campos by email at ofaproducoes@gmail.com.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
