Across the world, there are women who carry with them the memory, practices, and ancient traditions of their peoples and cultures, of their homelands and their music. Women who are at once vessels of ancestral wisdom and transmitters of invaluable knowledge that, without their perseverance, determination, and sense of purpose, would likely be lost to the passage of time. Dona Onete is one of those women. When she steps onto the stage, flashing her radiant smile and swaying her flowing skirt, the audience can be certain the night will be unforgettable.

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Owner of a husky voice and composer of seductive verses, she captivates audiences wherever she goes. Such is Dona Onete, 76 years old, one of the greatest talents of Brazilian popular music from Pará, acclaimed both in Brazil and abroad. The diva of carimbó chamegado—which, as she herself explains, has the rhythm of carimbó “with a touch of spice.” Born in Cachoeira do Arari, in the Marajó region (PA), Ionete Gama worked as a History teacher, Secretary of Culture, and founded a regional dance and music group. In the early 2000s, she gained popularity with younger audiences alongside the collective Rádio Cipó, with her playful and mischievous lyrics. Her first album, Feitiço Caboclo (2012), was warmly received by critics.

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PRESS

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“With a deliciously crumpled voice, [Dona Onete] surprises with her command of multiple styles in her national debut”

Tárik de Souza in ‘’A dama da voga musical’’, published in Carta Capital magazine.