Shared Rhythms
Our current storytelling project, documenting our history through dance, music, and community voices to honour our roots and strengthen connection.
2026 National Demographics
We are delighted to share back to the community the results of our Demographic Survey of the National Samba Community in Australia. Below you will find the report, the methodology, and a call to action to help shape the cultural legacy of our shared story.
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We invite you to read, reflect, and connect with us about the findings and our documentary project.
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You are very welcome to share this page. To help demonstrate community engagement to documentary investors, we kindly ask that you share a direct link to this page rather than copying content from it.
About the report
Executive Summary
Afro-Brazilian Samba in Australia is more than dance, music or arts performance. It is a multi-decade cultural practice sustained through community leadership, intergenerational teaching and diasporic continuity. This research report documents a living network that has developed across cities and states, shaped by migration, collaboration and local adaptation. It maps participation, leadership demographics nationally. This report forms part of a broader PhD research project examining the history and pedagogy of the community.
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Introduction
In 2024, leaders and community members from 'Afro Brazilian' Samba in Australia worked together on a participatory research project. The project documents the history and teaching of Samba in Australia. It is led by PhD candidate Susie Smith at the University of Newcastle and supported by Umbela Brasil.​
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Methodology
An online survey was shared by more than 40 community leaders between May and June 2024. 1,791 people viewed the survey and 173 completed it. From June to August 2024, 22 leaders took part in filmed interviews. The stories of three respected elders who have passed away were also included through community oral history.​
The data shows a strong, practice-based Samba community in Australia. This community is culturally connected to Brazil, while being demographically adjacent to, but not the same as the Brazilian-born population recorded in ABS census data.​ For a first survey of this kind, the results are strong and reliable. They provide a clear national picture of Samba practice in Australia and show high levels of trust, participation, and community connection.
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Gratitude
This research was supported by the Commonwealth through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
We thank the community for their strong support of this project. The level of participation reflects significant trust and engagement across the national Samba network.
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Saudações to the community leaders who championed this project and circulated the survey nationally. Your leadership and trust made this level of participation possible.
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Citation APA 7
Smith, S. L. (2026). Demographic survey results of the Afro-Brazilian Samba community in Australia. Umbela Brasil. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18765177
In-text: (Smith, 2026)
National Callout
We are documenting the history of Samba in Australia.
If you have footage, photos, news articles, or other archival material that you would be willing to share, we would love to hear from you.
Your contribution will help us honour and tell the story of this beautiful cultural lineage.
