Fabiana Frayssinet

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep 18 (IPS) - On stage, singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil highlighted Brazil's "genetic and cultural" connection to "Mother Africa," to applause from a predominantly light-skinned audience at a concert that black people generally could not afford - symbolic of the country's "veiled racism" at an international festival organised to combat it.

The Back2Black festival presented a variety of prestigious black artists but, unfortunately, not to the descendants of African slaves who today are the majority of Brazil's nearly 192 million people and who generally occupy the lowest socioeconomic strata. The cost of tickets, at between 34 and 45 dollars apiece (half-price for students and teachers), was prohibitive for most Afro-descendants.

The stars of the international festival in Rio de Janeiro were Gil, a former minister of culture (2003-2008) in the leftwing government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Youssou N'Dour of Senegal, introduced as "Africa's greatest voice," Brazilian rap artist MV Bill and the Banda Black Rio ensemble, among others.

African rhythms and their global influences were also represented by Angelique Kidjo, of Benin, Paulo Flores of Angola, and Mayra Andrade with the music of Cape Verde, while performers from the Americas included Brazilian samba performer Martinalia, Cuba's Omara Portuondo, African American expressions from Los Angeles, and Brazilian singer-songwriters influenced by jazz, like Ed Motta from Rio de Janeiro.