The rhythmic sounds of the drums, the swirling colors of ancestral cloth, and the powerful presence of the Orisa filled the streets of São Paulo as the renowned escola de samba Barrocas de Zona Sul brought a breathtaking Yoruba-inspired parade to the 2025 Brazil Carnival. This year’s theme, “Ègúngún and the Nine Heavens of Ọyá”, told the sacred stories of transition, transformation, and ancestral power—celebrating the journey of souls between Aiyé (Earth) and Ọ̀rún (the spiritual realm) under the guidance of Òrìṣà Ọyá, the divine force of the winds, storms, and passage between worlds.
Barrocas de Zona Sul masterfully wove together music, dance, and elaborate costumes to narrate the celestial journey through the nine layers of Ọ̀rún, the spiritual dimensions that lead to Ọlọ́run, the Supreme Creator. In Yorùbá cosmology, Ọyá, also known as Ìyá Mèsàn’ (Mother of Nine), is the guardian of the gates between life and death, guiding spirits between realms. The parade honored her sacred role, showcasing her presence in the whirlwind energies that open pathways for both the living and the ancestors.
Each float represented a different level of Ọ̀rún, from the realm of freshly departed spirits to the exalted heights where enlightened souls reunite with the divine. Through this, the parade beautifully illustrated the cycle of existence, showing how the ancestors continue to influence and protect their descendants in Aiyé.
At the heart of the parade was the Ègúngún masquerade, a grand display of ancestral reverence. Dancers adorned in the sacred Ękù Èègun (Egúngún costumes) moved through the streets, their vibrant, flowing fabrics symbolizing the presence of ancestral spirits. These beings, called forth through ritual, act as intermediaries between the living and the dead, blessing and guiding their lineage.
Barrocas de Zona Sul paid tribute to this tradition by incorporating authentic Yoruba elements into their performance, with traditional chanting, drumming, and symbolic movements that honored the continuity of life and spiritual connection.
In addition to celebrating Ọyá’s role as a guardian of transitions, the parade also highlighted the crucial presence of Èṣù, the divine messenger and keeper of the crossroads. Recognized as the force that ensures balance in the universe, Èṣù was prominently honored, reinforcing his essential role in guiding energies between realms and protecting the passage of spirits.
Barrocas de Zona Sul’s parade was not just a spectacle—it was a living embodiment of Yoruba spiritual philosophy. By honoring all Òrìṣà and the sacred ancestors, the performance remains a powerful reminder of the enduring presence of African spirituality in the Brazilian cultural landscape.
The 2025 Brazil Carnival was more than just a festive event for Barrocas de Zona Sul—it was a profound act of cultural preservation and resistance. By showcasing the rich traditions of Yoruba spirituality, the school reaffirmed the deep African roots of Brazilian identity and honored the legacy of those who carried these traditions across the Atlantic.
As the beats of the drums faded into the night, the spirits of Ọyá, Ègúngún, and Èṣù remained alive in the hearts of the people, a fact to the unbreakable bond between past, present, and future.
