Make way for a new, inclusive Baile Funk movement that is NECESSARY and hot AF
São Paulo favela-born businesswomen and besties Gabriela Vallim and Agatha Saldanha are the founders of Baile Funk Culture: the inclusive collective that London’s whitewashed scene was in serious need of. On February 25th they’re hosting a carnival party with their UK and Brazilian chosen family. Here’s why their movement is powerful, political and hot AF.
When Baile Funk started trending globally, it lost its political context
If you're in the same underground club music circuit as I am, you’ll know about Brazilian Baile Funk. Whether it’s original, raw, creative and sexual Favela Funk, or smooth future Baile beats like Sango: Baile Funk is trending all over club dance floors, on Soundcloud and even on catwalks (did someone say Louis Vuitton!?).
But here’s the thing. Baile Funk is Black music. And it’s SEXY music. And that is why it’s no surprise at all that everybody wants a piece of it - but few are researching or respecting where it’s coming from.
Baile Funk is Afro Brazilian music from the favelas. First inspired by 80s Miami Booty Bass, its sound, lyrics and dance culture is tied up with the joy, sexual liberation, freedom and self-expression as it is with the racism, sexual abuse and trauma that comes with everyday Favela life.
Brazil has the second largest Black population in the world after Nigeria, and Baile Funk is still looked down upon and discriminated against by many Brazilians. But the language barrier and extreme media whitewashing of Brazilian culture has completely disconnected so many of us from that reality.
Favela-born Gabi Vallim and Agatha Saldanha are spreading awareness in london about real Baile Funk
When Baile Funk started ‘trending’ globally, in early 2021 I interviewed Sao Paulo-born music journalist Felipe Maia to find out more about the politics of Favela Funk. Then, in June 2022 another music journalist - the beautiful Gabriela Vallim - exploded into my life like a bomb. Coming from two different universes but on the same spiritual vibration, it was love at first sight.
In the first of what would become one of many powerful collaborations, she uploaded her first ever article in English onto Rave Report about what it’s like being Black in Brazil VS London, and why for Black Brazilians like Gabi, shaking your ass is a political act.
Read this next: ‘What would Brazil look like without the media whitewash’? by Gab Vallim
Gabi shares why London needs the inclusive space for Baile Funk she and her sisters are creating:
“The racism in Brazil is suffocating. From the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to bed. You can’t have mental health. Because of the inequalities, we don’t have a culture of travelling abroad. Black Brazilians suffer from racism all the time - in the workplace, the hospital, on the TV, in the airport as well. It gives us a fear of travelling and we think going abroad we’ll deal with the same. But in my personal experience, when you live abroad you’ll see the situation in Brazil is even worse than in many other countries”.
“There are a lot of Black women playing Baile Funk in Brazil. But white girls get booked because they have access to the communities. Here in the UK, I see a lot of British guys putting Baile Funk on their flyers when they don’t even know what they're talking about. I went to so many events and I expected Baile Funk. But it never starts. The organizers are embarrassed when I ask because they are just including it to make money. You get Baile Funk parties in London but the crowds are always white Brazilians. They don't care about the culture or integrate black people or women in their lineups or crowds. This is problematic”.
Gabi and Agatha are collaborating with their chosen UK and Brazilian family to create the revolutionary space London was crying out for
The Baile Funk Culture mission is “to bring together the Brazilian youth involved in art, politics and music in London''; to “connect the London underground with Brazil'; ‘representing the plurality of the country and its African heritage”. They do it by blending London’s beautiful multiculturalism and artistic eclecticism with the sexy sounds, dance and vibrancy of Brazilian culture that we can’t get enough of, and inclusivity stands at the forefront of everything they do.
Art by @Dazlboy: Sao-Paulo based Baile Funk DJ, graphic designer and graffiti writer
Join us in Hackney on Feb 25th to celebrate Brazilian carnival and the authentic spirit of Baile Funk
Their next event is this February 25th at Hackney Social to celebrate Brazilian carnival season. What I also love about the Baile Funk Culture lineups and team is that while it’s not a specifically queer event, their lineup and team has strong representation. I can say it with my CHEST that these promoters are here to create revolutionary joy via the dancefloor, and that is at the front and centre of their intentions.
Baile Funk Culture unifies creatives from our UK and Brazilian family with high tempo multigenre club bangers to make you move and feel alive in ways you didn't know imaginable. Get your tickets here & come get sexy & sweaty with us!
meet the Hosts and DJS
Left to right: @Jorge, Dj BullyBeef, DJ Lilo, DJ Sensei Lo, @Denimach (host), @Kokopopsweet (host), DJ Bani, DJ Mango Park