Olorum
Mateus Aleluia
2020
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Olorum is a work that fits into the remarkable trajectory of Mateus Aleluia, a Brazilian musician, singer, composer, and researcher with a profound connection to African ancestry. As a remaining member of the original line-up of Os Tincoãs, a pioneering group in expressing African cultural and musical heritage in Brazilian Popular Music, this album reflects the essence of his research and experience. The style of Olorum, being immersed in Mateus Aleluia's artistic identity, is characterised by a sound that evokes pan-African musical ancestry. The attention the album deserves lies in how it continues to give voice to these deep roots, presenting an authentic musical perspective rooted in Afro-Brazilian traditions, the result of decades of dedication to culture and research.
Context
Mateus Aleluia began his career in the Recôncavo Baiano region and, alongside Dadinho, was essential in defining the artistic and ideological profile of Os Tincoãs. This group was the first to vocalise the cultural and linguistic heritage of various African peoples in Brazilian Popular Music, establishing a profound connection with Africa. This connection with Africa intensified when Mateus moved to Angola in 1983, dedicating himself to cultural research and travelling across the country in search of masters of diverse knowledge, with a focus on pan-African musical ancestry. His return to Brazil in 2002, at the request of the Federal Government, marked the resumption of his solo career, culminating in releases such as Olorum in 2020.
Credits
Sylvia Moore
Michael Meacock
Bernard Broere, Sylvia Moore
Linda Hirst
Sylvia Moore
Michael Jeans
Bernard Broere
Lawrence Perry
Brian Snelling
Norman Toohig
Books
Analyses
Mateus Aleluia se equilibra entre céu e terra no álbum 'Olorum ... - G1
g1.globo.com
Throughout the album Olorum, Mateus Aleluia balances between celestial evocations – such as that of Kyriê!
O verdadeiro chão de Mateus Aleluia - Revista Continente
revistacontinente.com.br
What Mateus Aleluia wants with Olorum is no small feat: to cross cultures ranging from archaic Jews, through Christians, Muslims and African nations with their living forces within and outside Brazil.
Ociosfork: Olorum, De Mateus Aleluia - Ócios De Ofício
ocioscomcafe.wordpress.com
A former member of the band Os Tincoãs, Mateus uses racial, romantic, and religious issues as raw material for his third solo album, undoubtedly making it one of the best releases of the year.
Minicontos: Mateus Aleluia, Olorum
caobarbosa.blogspot.com
"Olorum" is Mateus Aleluia's third original album, following "Cinco sentidos" (2010) and "Fogueira doce" (2018), and was produced by Ronaldo Evangelista, with a special appearance by João Donato. The launch took place during a live stream, which achieved over 25,000 views.
Blog do Brenno: Analisando Discografias - Mateus Aleluia
obrenno.blogspot.com
In 2020, another Mateus Aleluia album was released, titled Olorum, which was broader in scope. Following Fogueira Doce, this next project would be much more spiritual, but also a sustenance of African creation and cosmology.