Mateus Aleluia

Origin

Cachoeira, BA

Years active

1960

Genres

mpb, afro-brazilian music, folk

Instruments

vocals, guitar

Biography

Mateus Aleluia Lima was born in Cachoeira, Bahia, on September 25, 1943. He began his musical journey in his hometown within the Recôncavo Baiano region, eventually becoming one of the defining members of the legendary vocal group Os Tincoãs alongside Dadinho. Together, they shaped the ideological and artistic direction of the group, which is celebrated as the first vocal ensemble in Brazilian Popular Music history to authentically express the linguistic and musical heritage of various African peoples in Brazil. Their deep connection to African roots eventually manifested as a lived reality for Aleluia.

In 1983, Aleluia moved to Angola, embarking on a profound phase of cultural research. Commissioned by the Angolan State Secretariat of Culture, he traveled throughout the country to engage with traditional masters and preserve diverse forms of knowledge, focusing his research on pan-African musical ancestry. This extensive period abroad deepened his artistic perspective and cemented his role as both a musician and an ethnomusicologist bridging Brazil and Africa.

After returning to Brazil in 2002 at the request of the Federal Government, Aleluia launched his solo career with the release of his debut album, "Cinco Sentidos," in 2010. He followed this with independent projects such as "Fogueira Doce" in 2017, "Olorum" in 2020, and subsequent works like "Afrocanto das Nações." Through his solo output and his foundational work with Os Tincoãs alongside contemporaries like Dadinho, Mateus Aleluia remains a vital custodian of Afro-Brazilian musical memory.