Soweto

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Genres

pagode, samba

Biography

Soweto is a renowned Brazilian romantic pagode musical group, founded in 1991 in the neighborhood of Itaquera, in the East Zone of São Paulo. The band began with Robson Buiú and Claudinho de Oliveira, going through various line-ups over the years and initially adopting names like Nó na Madeira and Sob Medida before consolidating as Soweto, a name inspired by a bar and a song by Djavan.

In the 1990s, with the entry of singer Belo on vocals, the group achieved great national prominence. Hugely successful albums such as Farol das Estrelas boosted the band's career, consolidating the romantic style within the São Paulo pagode scene. Despite tragic losses, such as the passing of founder Robson Buiú, and numerous reformulations in its line-up with the departure and entry of various vocalists and instrumentalists over the decades, Soweto maintained its relevance in the Brazilian music scene.

In 2023, the group announced a 30th-anniversary tour that marked the temporary return of Belo and Claudinho of Oliveira to the stage with the band. Throughout its trajectory, Soweto influenced and shared space with several exponents of pagode and romantic samba, keeping the genre's tradition alive in Brazil.

Discography

• Broken Shoes (1976)
• Vento dos Areais (1995)
• Refém do Coração (1997)
• Farol das Estrelas (1999)
• Fotografia (2000)
• Muito Prazer (2012)
• Soweto no Estúdio Showlivre (Acústico) [Ao Vivo] (2016)
• Soweto no Estúdio Showlivre (Ao Vivo) (2019)
• Vento dos Areais, o Documentário (2021)
• Novos Tempos (Ao Vivo) (2026)