Nação Zumbi Electrifies João Rock Festival with Manguebeat and Chico Science Legacy

Nação Zumbi delivered a powerful performance of Pernambucan music at the João Rock 2026 festival in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. The band, nearly 35 years on the road, captivated fans with their signature manguebeat sound, honoring both the legacy of Chico Science and their iconic album "Afrociberdelia." Lead singer Jorge Du Peixe addressed the crowd, stating, "This is a resistance, so that the music of Brazil, original music, shows itself and propagates." This marked the band's return to the festival after a nine-year absence, reinforcing their status as a key figure in Brazilian music. The setlist included classics like "Computadores Fazem Arte" from their 1994 album "Da Lama ao Caos," and "Defeito Perfeito" and "Foi de Amor" from a 2014 release. The band also paid homage to Chico Science with "Um Passeio no Mundo Livre" and "Meu Maracatu Pesa Uma Tonelada" from "Afrociberdelia," a project that inspired their recent tour and was the last recorded before Science's death in 1997. Other highlights included "Manguetown," "O Cidadão do Mundo," "Samba Makossa," and "Banditismo por uma questão de classe." The performance also featured "Um Sonho" and the 2000s hit "Quando a Maré Encher," famously covered by Cássia Eller. Nação Zumbi concluded their set with the highly anticipated "Maracatu Atômico," a standout track from "Afrociberdelia," leaving the audience wanting more.