Silencing the drum: Religious racism and Afro-Brazilian sacred music

Abstract

Silencing the Drum exposes the profound struggle of Afro-Brazilian sacred music against escalating intolerance. Danielle N. Boaz and Umi Vaughan blend legal scholarship with ethnomusicology, offering a compelling narrative rooted in interviews with religious leaders, musicians, and activists across Brazil. This multidisciplinary exploration examines the relentless attacks against the practitioners of Afro-Brazilian religions-from discriminatory noise complaints in Bahia to vigilante violence in Rio de Janeiro. The volume integrates multimedia elements including musical samples to vividly illustrate the struggles and resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities in the face of discrimination. As Silencing the Drum confronts the larger global issues of racism and religious freedom, it provides essential insights for scholars, activists, and anyone passionate about human rights and cultural preservation. "It seems obvious to me that the text is invaluable, timely, and important. The issues it brings forth and the decolonial manner in which it does so are exciting and groundbreaking."