Tribute to Laíla.
The air crackled with an energy I've rarely witnessed.
In the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the spirit of Carnaval was undeniably alive and vibrant. I had the immense privilege, a true honor, of being present to photograph the pre-Carnaval performance of the legendary samba school, Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, as they gear up for their 2025 parade.
This year holds a particularly poignant significance as Beija-Flor will be paying homage to the unforgettable Luiz Fernando Ribeiro do Carmo, affectionately known as Laíla, a true icon of Rio's Carnaval and a cornerstone of Beija-Flor, who sadly
left us in 2021.
Beija-Flor
Legacy, farewell, grandeur, memory
RIO DE JANEIRO | CARNIVAL
A Beautiful Homage to Laila (BeijaFlor)
by Sergehino Aguiar
The samba-enredo, composed by Kirazinho, Lucas Gringo, Wilsinho Paz, Venir Vieira, Marquinhos Beija-Flor, and Dr. Rogério, was a soaring anthem of remembrance. But it was the voice of Neguinho da Beija-Flor, the school’s iconic interpreter for 49 years, that carried the emotion of an era coming to a close.
Neguinho da Beija-Flor
Archive Note
Name: Luiz Antônio Feliciano Marcondes
Years Active:
1976–2025
Role: Lead Singer of Beija-Flor de Nilópolis
Championships Won with Beija-Flor:14
Key Parades:
1976 – first title,
2007 – “Áfricas”,
2018 – last championship
Final Parade:
2025, tribute to Laíla
Neguinho da Beija-Flor
born Luiz Antônio Feliciano Marcondes, closed an era in 2025. For forty-nine years his voice was the sound of Beija-Flor itself, guiding the school since 1976 through victories, tributes, and countless nights on the avenue.
This final pre-Carnaval performance carried a weight that was both historic and intimate. Singing in honor of LAÍLA, Neguinho filled the Sambódromo with the same strength that had once led Beija-Flor to glory. Every note carried memory, every pause held gratitude.
The audience understood the moment. They were not only hearing a singer but witnessing the conclusion of nearly five decades of devotion. His departure as official voice was met with silence that turned to tears, then to applause, as Beija-Flor saluted the man whose chant had become its heartbeat.
Bruna Gonçalves
Wings of the Parade
Pinah Ayoub.
Her name is written deep into the history of Beija-Flor de Nilópolis.
Musa Savia David,
Celebrating 16 Years of Dedication
and a Legacy of Ancestral Wisdom.
Listen before reading: Neguinho da Beija-Flor’s farewell, told in my voice.
Lorena Raíssa
A Queen Born of Samba
Leading the charge was none other than the Queen of Drums, Lorena Raíssa, a woman whose very existence is intertwined with Beija-Flor’s magic.
Lorena’s story is the stuff of Carnaval legend. Her mother, a Beija-Flor dancer, went into labor during a technical rehearsal. Born into the rhythm, Lorena was destined to reign.
This year, she made history once again as the pregnant Queen of Drums, her radiant presence symbolizing continuity, life, and the unbreakable bond between past and future.
