Gilberto Gil, living legend of Brazilian music, is officially immortal: the 79-year-old singer was inducted into the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL) on Friday evening April 8, and assured that he “keep hope alive” despite the period “politically dark” crossed by his country.
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Singer Gilberto Gil with his daughter Preta, during his induction into the Brazilian Academy of Letters on April 8 in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo: AFP / VNA / CVN |
“Rarely have writers and artists faced so much hostility“, declared the icon of tropicalism, who put on for the first time his khaki green ceremonial dress decorated with gilding for his enthronement, in Rio de Janeiro.
He is the second black man in the current composition of the ABL, which has 40 members and was founded in 1897 on the model of the French Academy.
“The Brazilian Academy of Letters is responsible for strengthening the intellectual image of the country in the face of obscurantism, demagoguery and attacks on democracy.“, added the singer.
Best-selling author like That hug Where every baiana girlGilberto Gil, born in Salvador de Bahia (Northeast), has nearly 60 records to his credit and has won two Grammy Awards.
Alongside Caetano Veloso, this singer and composer was one of the leading figures of tropicalism, a libertarian movement that revolutionized Brazilian music in the 1960s.
Minister of Culture Lula from 2003 to 2008, he was also named UNESCO Artist for Peace in 1999.
AFP / VNA / CVN
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