‘Onete is a songwriter fully alive to her world' NPR
‘A powerful and emotional voice, writing bravely personal lyrics’ The Guardian
'Queen of the Amazon' Dona Onete returns with her third album Rebujo which brims with joyous carimbós and high energy bangues as well as a cumbia, brega and samba.
A cult figure turned crossover success in Brazil and an ambassador for Amazonian culture, the music Onete sings is a unique mix of rhythms from native Brazilians, African slaves and the Caribbean - epitomised in the joyous carimbós that are her trademark.
Formerly a history teacher, folklore researcher, union representative, culture secretary and children’s author - “I never thought I would be a singer” she claims - Onete recorded her debut album at 73. She is now one of Brazil’s most in-demand artists with a packed schedule throughout Brazil and an increasing global profile that has seen her perform at Roskilde, Womad, Chicago World Music Festival and beyond.