If you’re into brazilian culture, it may be curious to know that Nação Zumbi means Zumbi Nation, a Maracatu “Nation” that in Recife’s culture means kind of a Maracatu “Club” (just like we have the Samba Schools at Rio).

Maracatu is a native rythm (come from Africa) similar to Samba, but very different in it’s accentuations. There are plenty Maracatu Nations in our city, everyone has it’s own variation on Maracatu beat, Maracatu clothes and sort of a religious culture.

Zumbi stands for the slave called Zumbi that at the times of slavery in Brazil ranway from his owners and leadered a revolution.

But ok, enough with this history stuff! Nação Zumbi is an indie rock band from Recife that created a mixture of Maracatu, Rock, Black Music and Eletronic Beats that just rules.

They started in the 90’s as Chico Science e Nação Zumbi, leadered by the very charismatic brazilian “rapper” Chico Science, that could be compared to something like a brazilian Bob Marley in terms of influence in our contemporary music and acceptance by international audiences.

They started a movement called Mangue Bit (or Mangue Beat) that promoted a bunch of good bands from Recife for the rest of the country on 90’s – all of them experimenting rythm mixtures.

At this time they released a very international and influential album called AFROCIBERDELIA (EMI), that MUST be heard by anyone who’s interested in good international music for the dancefloors or even hardrock.

Chico Science died in 1997 in a car crash in Recife, but the band kept playing around with new lead singer Jorge du Peixe (that used to play percussion in the band).

The new Nação Zumbi created a whole new scenario for themselves playing a more introspective and mature music based on Maracatu, Rock and Psichedelia, creating their own label, and touring around the world.

Look for the album called FUTURA at international CD E-stores (you must have it!)

The most incredible thing about Nação Zumbi music for non-brazilian listeners is their amazing rythm session with lots of drums (as told before, similar to Samba) that influenced bands like Sepultura and Soulfly (very known brazilian heavy metal bands).

Yes! This is a bigger than the usual post in Not Samba (it had to).

Listen to Nação Zumbi at http://www.myspace.com/nacaozumbi