Os Mulheres Negras
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | São Paulo , Brazil |
| Products | Music albums |
| Parent | Warner Music Group (for album releases) |
Os Mulheres Negras (translated as "The Black Women" in Portuguese) is a Brazilian experimental rock pair originating from São Paulo in 1985, consisting of André Abujamra (vocals, electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machine) and Maurício Pereira (vocals, saxophone). They describe themselves as "the world's third smallest big band" and are recognized for their diverse musical approach, incorporating witty, cartoon-like lyrics and dramatic stage presentations that have garnered them a devoted cult audience.
History
The partnership between Maurício Pereira and André Abujamra (son of Antônio Abujamra) began in 1984 after meeting at a lecture focused on African percussion and music—a meeting that inspired their band’s name. United by shared musical preferences, they commenced composing songs in 1985 and performing throughout São Paulo, often donning distinctive overcoats paired with bowler hats.
Their distinctive sound caught the attention of WEA (currently Warner Music Group), resulting in their debut album Música e Ciência released in 1988 and produced by Pena Schmidt. This record fused an array of styles including samba, baião, lambada, música sertaneja, rap, and Muzak, while drawing inspiration from artists such as The Beatles, Heitor Villa-Lobos, George Gershwin, and Tom Jobim. Although critics acclaimed the album, it did not achieve commercial success. Their second release, Música Serve pra Isso (1990), adopted a more approachable tone with reduced experimentation. Both albums were later reissued on CD by Warner Music Group in 2001.
The duo disbanded in 1991; subsequently, Abujamra initiated the world music ensemble Karnak in 1992 and embarked on a career composing for film and television. Meanwhile, Pereira pursued solo endeavors and created the side project Turbilhão de Ritmos in 2003. Despite their separation, they occasionally reunited for collaborations such as contributing to the soundtrack of the children's show Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum in 1995 and recording "Mestre Jonas" for the movie Durval Discos (2002), which also featured a cameo appearance by Abujamra.
Os Mulheres Negras officially reformed in 2012 and marked their 30th anniversary with a commemorative tour in 2015. They have expressed interest in producing a third studio album.
In 2013, filmmakers Sandro Serpa and Bel Bechara directed the documentary Música É para Isso: Uma História d'Os Mulheres Negras, which was met with critical praise.
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Música e Ciência
|
| 1990 | Música Serve pra Isso
|
Miscellaneous
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Durval Discos: Trilha Sonora Original do Filme
|