Deep Dive: Acadêmicos de Niterói, honoring Lula with samba-enredo, finishes lower as Viraduro wins Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival represents a cornerstone of Brazilian cultural identity, where samba schools from across the country compete in elaborate parades at the Sambadrome (Sapucaí), showcasing enredos that often draw from national history, politics, and social themes. Acadêmicos de Niterói's choice to center its 2024 enredo on Lula da Silva, portraying him as 'the Worker of Brazil' rising from humble origins in Mulungu, reflects the deep politicization of Carnival, a tradition rooted in Afro-Brazilian resistance and community pride since the early 20th century. Niterói, located across the bay from Rio in Rio de Janeiro state, fields a school known for creative but sometimes controversial themes, competing against powerhouses like Viradouro, which hails from Niterói's rival neighborhoods and frequently leverages populist narratives to galvanize judges and crowds. From a geopolitical lens, this event underscores Brazil's polarized political landscape under Lula's presidency, where cultural spectacles serve as proxies for ideological battles between left-leaning Workers' Party supporters and conservative critics. Samba schools are funded by public lotteries, corporate sponsors, and community fundraising, making their rankings not just artistic judgments but economic stakes involving millions in prizes and prestige that sustain favelas and working-class neighborhoods. Viradouro's victory, despite Niterói's bold pro-Lula theme, highlights how judges—often influenced by samba federation politics—prioritize technical execution, choreography, and samba quality over explicit messaging, preserving Carnival's apolitical facade amid Brazil's tensions. Cross-border implications are limited but notable in Latin America's cultural diplomacy sphere, where Brazil's Carnival exports soft power via global broadcasts, influencing tourism from Europe and the US while amplifying debates on populism mirrored in leaders like Argentina's Milei or Colombia's Petro. For international audiences, this illustrates how grassroots arts intersect with elite power dynamics, affecting migrant communities in Lisbon or Miami who follow via remittances and media. Looking ahead, relegated schools like Niterói face Group B next year, potentially diminishing their platform for political expression and impacting local economies reliant on Carnival hype. Stakeholders include samba school directors, who strategize enredos years in advance; politicians like Lula, whose image boosts or burdens affiliates; and the Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba (Independent League of Samba Schools), which oversees judging amid corruption allegations. The outcome reinforces Viradouro's dominance, won previously in 2020, signaling strategic alliances in Rio's samba ecosystem over overt partisanship.