BBC World Service - Witness History, Clara Nunes: Queen of Samba (original) (raw)

Clara Nunes: Queen of Samba

Brazilian singer, Clara Nunes, became known as the Queen of Samba. She was an icon of African Brazilian culture.

Singer Clara Nunes is an icon of African Brazilian culture and known as the Queen of Samba.

Her first samba song Ê Baiana was released in 1973.

In 1974, the release of the song Conto de Areia secured her a place in history. Clara sold more records than any other Brazilian woman had before.

She's considered to be one of the greatest samba singers of her generation. She died in 1983.

Brazilian radio broadcaster and samba record producer Adelzon Alves worked with Clara. He tells Gill Kearsley Clara’s story.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Clara Nunes in 1974. Credit: Gilbert Girbaldi/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

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