Editing Samba (section)

=== Criminalization ===
In its beginnings, Samba was heavily criminalized by the Brazilian government. Born in the [[Favela]]s, it was a distinctly Afro Brazilian musical genre that brought people together in community and celebration, but that, to the Brazilian elite, was threatening. Samba's incorporation of African drumming was thought to be a connection to Afro Brazilian cults.{{sfn|Miranda|2021}}

Many early composers were thought to be leaders of African cults and for this connection, samba faced policed persecution. Any Samba gathering was swiftly shut down, with musicians arrested and their instruments destroyed. As a result, Samba had to go underground; it relied on community members to assume the risk of persecution to have Samba parties out of their homes. Ultimately samba became a hallmark of Brazilian culture, highlighted at [[Brazilian Carnival|Carnival]], but it was not always that way, as in its origins practicing samba was defiance against the government.{{sfn|Galinsky|1996}}