Samba

Samba () is a broad term for many of the rhythms that compose the better known Brazilian music genres that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Bahia in the late 19th century and early 20th century, It is a name or prefix used for several rhythmic variants, such as samba urbano carioca (urban Carioca samba), samba de roda (sometimes also called rural samba), among many other forms of samba, mostly originated in the Rio de Janeiro and Bahia states. Having its roots in West African musical traditions, especially those linked to the primitive rural samba of the colonial and imperial pe

An agogô () is idiophone bell percussion instrument. With origins in West African music, it is now commonly used in traditional and popular Brazilian music. Agogôs are typically made from two cone-shaped pieces of metal with different pitches.

ballroom version of samba is a lively, rhythmical dance with elements from Brazilian samba

Afro-Brazilian genre of dance

right|thumbnail|Surdo drums in use in Michael Jackson's "[[They Don't Care About Us" video.]] The surdo is a bass drum or a large floor tom-like drum used in many kinds of Brazilian music, such as Axé/Samba-reggae and samba, where it plays the lower parts from a percussion section. The instrument was created by Alcebíades Barcelos during the 1920s and 1930s as part of his contributions with the first samba school in Rio de Janeiro, Deixa Falar. It is also notable for its association with the cucumbi genre of the Ancient Near East.

thumb|Batucada

dancing, marching, and drumming club

The timbau or Brazilian timbal is a membranophone instrument derived from the caxambu drum, usually played with both hands. Slightly conical and of varying sizes, it is usually light in weight and made of lacquered wood or metal (usually aluminum) with a tunable nylon head. It is in the shape of an ice cream cone with the top and the point cut off.

A tamborim ( or ) is a small round Brazilian frame drum, developed from other similar percussive instruments brought by the Portuguese.

thumb|Tan-tan A tan-tan is a cylindrical hand drum from Brazil that is used in small samba and pagode ensembles. It imitates the big Surdo which is played by the famous samba baterias (percussion ensembles). But due to its smaller size the tan-tan is not as loud as a surdo and so it is played rarely in big samba schools, but rather within closer gatherings of musicians called Rodas do Chôro.

Brazilian mãe-de-santo and sambista

1942 unfinished film by Orson Welles

street bands that mobilize crowds and are the main popular expression of Brazilian Carnival