Arab Influence on Samba

Arab Influence on Samba


Published on YouTube: July 15, 2015

Certainly, a lot of the Blacks slaves which went to Brazil were Muslim when they first arrived; but after the Malê Revolt of the early 19th century (around 1835), the Brazilians totally crushed Islam in Brazil.

the Malê Revolt

Fearing the example might be followed, the Brazilian authorities began to watch the malês very carefully and in subsequent years intensive efforts were made to force conversions to Catholicism and erase the popular memory and affection towards Islam. However, the African Muslim community was not erased overnight, and as late as 1910 it is estimated there were still some 100,000 African Muslims living in Brazil.

In effect, Islam was crushed.

In 2010, the Brazilian census reported only 35,167 Muslims. Most of there were of recent immigrant stock.


April 14, 2020 – Edited: Had to find a new source for the video.