IU Africana Studies presents an exciting evening exploring intersections of sound, celebrating the Afro-Brazilian roots of samba with electrifying musicians Juliana Ribeiro and Magary Lord, accompanied by the Rob Dixon Quintet. The evening also features a powerful performance of artistry and healing through spoken word and jazz, with Emmy Award-winning poet Lasana D. Kazembe and his ensemble, Watu Wazuri. Expect an unforgettable night filled with energy, passion, cultural insight, and artistic improvisation.

About the Artists

Magary Lord, often called Bahia’s unofficial king of Carnival, fuses Candomblé and Samba Chula from the Bahian Recôncavo into a vibrant sound that’s equal parts dance, percussion, and storytelling—bringing samba’s ancestral roots to vivid life.

Juliana Ribeiro is a modern-day sambista whose voice draws from traditional Brazilian folk forms like chulas, lundus, and jongos, the refined salon music of 19th-century Rio, and the Afro-Angolan semba, all woven into the contemporary spirit of Brazilian samba.

Lasana D. Kazembe leads Watu Wazuri (“beautiful people” in Swahili), a dynamic ensemble of fearless artists and cultural visionaries. Through spoken word and jazz, they explore the boundaries of improvisation and expression. The group features Kazembe (spoken word, percussion), Rob Dixon (saxophone), Brandon Meeks (bass), and Kenny Phelps (drums, percussion).