Working together since 1975, this was the debut album from the singer/songwriter duo consisting of Vítor da Trindade and
Carlos Caçapava, which featured the participation of
Letícia Coura (voice/cavaquinho) and
Adriana Capparelli (voice). Most songs were penned by both, but they also composed individually and with other partners. Their work consists of rhythms of the Afro-Brazilian tradition (jongo, candomblé, maracatu, coco, etc.) infused with contemporary Afro-American music. The subtle swing produced by this unprejudiced fusion serves as support for lyrics dealing with the oppression of black people in a white society ("Rio," "A Velhinha do Angu"); nostalgia ("Pregões do Rio"); a celebration of the memory of Zumbi dos Palmares, a black hero to slaves ("Zumbi"); sensuality ("Sorriso da Lua"); and religion ("Oferenda"), while a humorous embolada ("Quinzumbiando") discusses the merits of rap music. The first song ever recorded in Brazil, the malicious lundu "Isto é Bom" (
Xisto Bahia), here received a relaxed, rural samba treatment. Simple and unpretentious, the album has the merit of representing a balanced symbiosis between people of African descent from different parts of the world, suggesting the establishment of connections beyond nationality.