São Paulo – In adolescence, something happened to the heart of Hussein Abdo El Selam whenever Carnival came. Born in São Paulo, from Lebanese parents, Seu Jamil, as he is known, never thought, however, that his passion for Carnival would take him so far. More precisely to the post of president of samba school Acadêmicos do Tucuruvi, in the Special group of the São Paulo samba school contest.
In the position since 1991, he is proud of having used his Arab talent to manage the organisation. And he knows that it will be joy and tears to hear the Tucuruvi drums beating in the early hours of Saturday (5), shaking samba avenue.
"I cry before entering the avenue," said Seu Jamil. "With each year, I renew my emotions, I can’t even believe that I am responsible for that work," he recalls, adding that entering Anhembi, where the Carnival parades take place, is always "special and different".
On hearing such a touched statement, you immediately ask yourself: how could this legitimate representative of the Arab community end up in samba? "My neighbour was a director at the school, which never took off," said Seu Jamil. "I said that if I were there, I would make the school pick up. I was then invited to participate," he recalls.
Once among the samba group, Seu Jamil made a point of organising the management. "I see the school as a company, a business. We must sell tickets, organise sponsors," he explained. "Money in my hand is multiplied. I can make 100,000 reals become 200,000 reals," he explained, placing his Arab heritage at the service of the joy.
From Lebanon to the Northeast
Still regarding his origins, Seu Jamil explains that Tucuruvi has never had an Arab theme at its parade. But that is soon to come. "We will have an Arab carnival," he promises. "My dream is to take the school for a presentation in Beirut, Lebanon," he said. "At least 150 of our 3,000 competitors," he said.
While the Samba of the Arabs does not come, this year the school is celebrating the Northeasterners who live in São Paulo. "We promise several surprises," said Seu Jamil. "Our opening group should show the arrival of the Northeasterners in São Paulo," he reveals, promising a parade of much emotion.
The same emotion made him dedicate his life to Carnival, and he is not alone. "My wife, Edna, to whom I have been married for 53 years, dances along the avenue with the energy of an 18 year old girl," he says, romantically. Both in love with the celebration, the couple also recalls the joy of granddaughter Sara, aged nine. "She loves to participate with us," says the proud grandfather, adding that, despite so many Carnivals, when the drums start, his heart still beats as if it were the first.
*Translated by Mark Ament
