Olorum

Mateus Aleluia

2020

Cover of Olorum
Top 100

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.

Rankings

Credits

Arranged By

Sylvia Moore

Producer

Michael Meacock

Music By

Bernard Broere, Sylvia Moore

Flute

Linda Hirst

Guitar, Flute

Sylvia Moore

Oboe

Michael Jeans

Tambourine, Bells, Drums, Flute [Bass Sansa], Piano, Harpsichord

Bernard Broere

Engineer, Design

Lawrence Perry

Lacquer Cut By

Brian Snelling

Design

Norman Toohig

Books

Analyses