Banzeiro by Dona Onete

"A powerful and emotional voice, writing bravely personal lyrics"
THE GUARDIAN **** (4 stars)

“This album is another stunner from the most vivacious septuagenarian out there”
SONGLINES **** (4 stars)

"Banzeiro marries her extraordinarily candid and outspoken songwriting to rousing, uptempo carimbós and banguê stompers" THE WIRE

"Dona Onete is the latest world music darling... a songwriter fully alive to her world" NPR - ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

"Entre fête et saudade, la sémillante chanteuse de Belèm incarne le folklore vivace des rives amazoniennes" TELERAMA SORTIR

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Dona Onete - ‘the grande dame of Amazonian song’ - returns with further tales from the river Amazon on Banzeiro.

Whether she’s championing gay rights, singing about the delights of indecent proposals or praising a former lover for his ‘crazy ways of making love’, Banzeiro is defined by Onete’s honest reflections on life, love and sex, as well as her delight in the everyday pleasures of life in the Amazon, whether that’s spicy seasoning, salty kisses or fishy-smelling water.

Formerly a history teacher, folklore researcher, union representative, culture secretary and children’s author - “I never thought I would be a singer” she claims - Onete recorded her debut album Feitiço Caboclo at 73. A cult figure in Brazil and an ambassador for Amazonian culture, the music she sings is a unique mix of rhythms from native Brazilians, African slaves and the Caribbean - epitomised in the joyous carimbós that are her trademark.