The Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) approved the granting of the Tiradentes Medal to Bahian singer Margareth Menezes, current Minister of Culture in Brazil. The highest honor granted by the legislative house was approved in a single discussion last week.
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The project is signed by congresswoman Verônica Lima (PT), who chairs the Alerj Culture Commission. In the text of the project, the parliamentarian highlights Margareth’s trajectory and her legacy of contributions to culture as a symbol of vocal and social power in the Afro-pop-Brazilian universe.
A native of Salvador, Margareth Menezes has had an almost four-decade career as a singer, with thousands of copies sold and Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations. She is also the founder and president of the NGO Fábrica Cultural, which encourages entrepreneurship and cultural strengthening in Bahia.
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For Verônica Lima, the honor recognizes the pioneering spirit of the first black woman in the highest position in cultural management in the country. “Approving the award of the Tiradentes Medal to Minister Margareth Menezes is recognizing a brilliant career as an artist, activist and manager. A pioneering black woman, talented and dedicated to transforming society”, comments the parliamentarian.
The deputy states that the return of the Ministry of Culture in the Lula (PT) government under the command of Margareth Menezes has promoted the recovery of the sector after years of dismantling. “There are several promotions of public policies to promote and value culture makers”, she adds.
Biography
Margareth Menezes da Purificação Costa was born on October 13, 1962, in Boa Viagem, Salvador (BA). She is the eldest daughter of Dona Diva, a seamstress and confectioner who came from Maré Island, and the driver Adelício Soares da Purificação, who died in March 2009.
In 1987, he recorded his first hit alongside Djalma de Oliveira, “Faraó (Divindade do Egypt)”, selling more than one hundred thousand copies. Menezes began his successful career, releasing 14 albums, two of which, “Ellegibô” and “Kindala”, reached the top of the Billboard World Albums, while “Pra Você” and “Brasileira Ao Vivo: Uma Homenagem Ao Samba -Reggae”, received Grammy nominations.
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Throughout her career, major publications refer to Margareth Menezes as a reference for new artists in axé-music, afropop and samba-reggae, as well as Brazilian popular music. Every year, the singer takes her electric trio, one of the most traditional, to the streets of Salvador.
Margareth accepted the invitation to join the ministerial team of the new government, assuming the portfolio of the recreated Ministry of Culture from January 1, 2023, being the first woman to assume the portfolio and the first black woman to be appointed Minister of State .
Source: BdF Rio de Janeiro
Editing: Clívia Mesquita
