After receiving tributes from all over the samba world and from authorities of all levels, after dying on Saturday (11), at the age of 88, Monarco, former honorary president of Portela, was honored this Thursday (16) by the city of Rio. The bastion of the carnival will give its name to Parque Madureira, in the North Zone of the capital.
The cultural and leisure facilities are located very close to the Portela square, in Madureira, and close to Oswaldo Cruz, a neighborhood where the artist grew up and which concentrates a good part of the blue and white fans. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality by decree of the mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD), declared supporter of the association, the biggest winner of the carioca carnival.
The Parque Madureira Mestre Monarco has 217 thousand square meters. In the publication that makes the name change official, Paes highlights the importance of Hildemar Diniz, Monarco’s registered name, for the world of samba and her contribution to the composers’ wing and to the old guard at Portela. The decree also says that the person being honored is “an icon among the greatest popular composers and singers in Brazil”.
The publication also highlights that Monarco “symbolizes what is most genuine in the national culture”. Monarco had been hospitalized since November at Hospital Cardoso Fontes, in Jacarepaguá, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. He was treating cancer and recently had digestive tract surgery.
In just a few hours, the samba dancer’s death provoked demonstrations of solidarity in several carnival associations. Among them, all the sisters of Portela in the Special Group, the Independent League of Samba Schools (Liesa) and public authorities such as Mayor Eduardo Paes, Governor Cláudio Castro (PL) and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
After the announcement of Monarco’s death, some associations even canceled activities planned for the following days. Mangueira suspended the street rehearsal scheduled for Monday (12).
Monarco’s body was veiled on Sunday (12), at the Portela court, where the musician made his last public performance months before. The farewell attracted artists such as Diogo Nogueira, Paulinho da Viola and Marisa Monte. The coffin was covered, in addition to the school’s flag, those of Unidos do Jacarezinho and América, the club the singer and composer supported.
Reference: CNN Brasil
