Bira da Vila

Origin

Duque de Caxias, RJ

Years Active

1977

Genres

samba

Instruments

percussion, voice

Biography

Ubirajara Silva de Souza, artistically known as Bira da Vila, is a singer, songwriter, percussionist and cultural producer born on January 8, 1963, in Vila São Luiz, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. He grew up in a musical environment influenced by his father, Seu Jair, who was a samba musician and dancer for the Cartolinha de Caxias samba school. Bira da Vila began his musical journey early on, learning to play percussion at 5 years old in the samba circles frequented by his father. At 14, he composed his first samba, titled "O Malandrinho", as a tribute to his father. His career gained prominence when, at 23, he joined the Composers' Wing of the Acadêmicos do Grande Rio samba school. In 1993, his composition "Sorriso de Banjo", in partnership with Fidélis Marques and Melodia Costa, was recorded by Jovelina Pérola Negra, achieving great national success.

Throughout his career, Bira da Vila established himself as an important voice of roots samba and the cultural resistance of Baixada Fluminense. He is recognized as a defender of peripheral identity and has worked as a musical researcher, seeking to value the culture of his region. His discography includes acclaimed albums such as "O Canto da Baixada" (2010), nominated for the Brazilian Music Award, and "Em Canto" (2017). Bira da Vila also participated in historic recordings, such as the DVD "Renascença Samba Clube – Samba do Trabalhador" (2005). His work "Ventos da Liberdade", composed in partnership with Riko Dorilêo in 2002, became an anthem for the nation of Angola, being played on the country's radios and associated with the peace process after the civil war.

Bira da Vila is cited in important publications on Brazilian music, such as the "Cravo Albin Dictionary of Popular Brazilian Music" and the book "Heranças do Samba" by Aldir Blanc, Hugo Sukman and Luiz Fernando Vianna. He also conceived audiovisual projects, such as "Som Baixada" (2021), a series of programs that gives visibility to artists from Baixada Fluminense. His musical partnership with master Luiz Carlos da Vila, whom he considers his artistic godfather, is well-known, and together they composed the track "Então, Leva!", recorded by Zeca Pagodinho in 2008 and voted one of the best sambas of 2009 by the Brazilian Music Award. His best-known songs include "O Daqui, o Dali e o de Lá", "Japeri" and "Vem pra roda sambar".

Discography

• O Canto da Baixada (2010)
• Em Canto (2017)