The Tia Ciata Band is the resident community music group of the Brazilian Cultural Centre CIC (BCC), bringing together musicians, singers, and music enthusiasts who share a passion for Brazilian culture and its rich musical traditions.
Since 2019 we have worked alongside cultural venues, community organisations, schools, researchers, artists and festivals to create new opportunities for creative participation and professional development.
Our aim is to strengthen the Brazilian creative sector in the East Midlands while contributing to the wider cultural landscape of the UK.
Tia Ciata Band
Based in Nottingham, the band serves as a cultural ambassador, introducing audiences across the United Kingdom to the rhythms, stories, and heritage of Brazil through live performances, community events, festivals, and educational activities.
More than a performance group, Tia Ciata Band is a space where music becomes a tool for cultural preservation, community connection, and artistic expression.
We draw inspiration from the legendary Tia Ciata, a pioneer of Brazilian music and culture whose home became a meeting place for musicians, artists, and community members. Through rhythm, melody, and shared creativity, she fostered a spirit of cultural exchange and community that continues to inspire our band today.
About Tia Ciata
Tia Ciata’s Band is a vibrant and passionate group of musicians dedicated to celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Brazil through music. We draw our inspiration from the legendary Tia Ciata, a prominent figure in the history of Brazilian music who brought people together through the power of rhythm and melody.
Who was Tia Ciata
The band takes its name from one of the most influential figures in Brazilian cultural history: Hilária Batista de Almeida.
Born in the state of Bahia and later living in Rio de Janeiro, Tia Ciata is widely recognised as one of the most important figures in the development of samba. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, her home became a meeting place for musicians, composers, and cultural leaders who helped shape what would become Brazil's most iconic musical genre.
She played a crucial role in preserving Afro-Brazilian traditions during a time when many expressions of Black culture faced discrimination and persecution. Today, Tia Ciata is celebrated as one of the "Mothers of Samba" and remains a symbol of cultural resistance, community leadership, and artistic creativity.
By carrying her name, the band honours her legacy and continues her mission of bringing people together through music.
Our Mission
The Tia Ciata Band was created to:
- Celebrate Brazilian musical heritage.
- Promote cultural exchange between Brazil and the United Kingdom.
- Create opportunities for community participation in music.
- Preserve traditional Brazilian rhythms and songs.
- Encourage learning, creativity, and artistic development.
- Strengthen connections between Brazilian communities and wider UK audiences.
Through rehearsals, performances, and community engagement activities, the band creates welcoming opportunities for people of different ages, backgrounds, and musical experiences to participate.
Our Empowerment Promise
We promise to our members to give them space and opportunity to grow, explore, feel more confident, raise their self-esteem, find purpose within the performing arts and have a lot of fun in the process.
Exploring Brazil Through Music
Brazil is home to one of the world's richest musical landscapes, shaped by Indigenous, African, European, and immigrant influences.
The Tia Ciata Band explores a variety of Brazilian musical styles, including: Samba, Pagode, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), Forró, Baião, Samba de Roda, Samba-Enredo, Choro, Bossa Nova, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, Carimbó
Each performance offers audiences a journey through Brazil's diverse regions, cultures, and traditions.
The band's repertoire includes both timeless classics and contemporary favourites, helping audiences discover the depth and diversity of Brazilian music.
Visit Tia Ciata Band
Visit Tia Ciata Band videos on the Brazilian Cultural Centre YouTube channel.
Supporting Learning and Participation
One of the band's key strengths is its commitment to accessibility and community involvement.
Members include musicians and singers with different levels of experience, creating opportunities for learning, mentoring, and artistic development.
The band supports participants to: Develop musical skills, Build confidence, Learn about Brazilian culture, Improve performance experience, Form new friendships, Strengthen community connections.
This inclusive approach reflects the wider mission of the Brazilian Cultural Centre to use arts and culture as tools for wellbeing, social inclusion, and lifelong learning.
This inclusive approach reflects the wider mission of the Brazilian Cultural Centre to use arts and culture as tools for wellbeing, social inclusion, and lifelong learning.
We also enable our artists to Create new work, Collaborate across disciplines, Engage with heritage, Build new audiences, Develop professional experience, and Contribute to long-term cultural archives.
Music as Cultural Heritage
At the Brazilian Cultural Centre, music is understood as an essential part of cultural heritage.
The Tia Ciata Band helps preserve songs, rhythms, stories, and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Through performances and educational activities, the group introduces audiences to the historical and cultural significance behind the music.
Many songs performed by the band tell stories of migration, identity, resistance, celebration, and everyday life, offering valuable insights into Brazilian history and society.
Representing Brazilian Culture in the UK
As part of the Brazilian Cultural Centre CIC, the Tia Ciata Band plays an important role in representing Brazilian culture throughout the Midlands and beyond.
The group contributes to cultural events that promote diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding while showcasing the richness of Brazil's musical traditions.
Through every performance, the band helps challenge stereotypes and presents a broader picture of Brazil's cultural heritage, highlighting the creativity, resilience, and diversity that define the country.
Looking Ahead
The Tia Ciata Band continues to grow as a community of musicians, singers, and cultural ambassadors dedicated to sharing the sounds of Brazil.
Future plans include expanding performances, developing educational workshops, collaborating with other artists and community groups, and contributing to heritage projects that document and celebrate Brazilian culture in the UK.
As the band continues its journey, it remains guided by the values that inspired its name: community, cultural pride, creativity, and the belief that music has the power to bring people together.
Join the Band & Contact us
Whether you are an experienced musician, a singer, or simply someone who loves Brazilian music, the Tia Ciata Band welcomes new members.
Join us as we celebrate Brazil's musical heritage, build community connections, and keep the spirit of Tia Ciata alive for future generations.
Together, we continue the story of Brazilian music, one song at a time.
Book us for your event or for music workshops: hello@brazilianculturalcentre.co.uk
Join the band: simone.dias@brazilianculturalcentre.co.uk
