Salvador-Born Party Collective BATEKOO is Creating Safe Spaces for LGTBQ+ & Black Brazilians

BATEKOO is a Salvador-born party collective that in just a few short years have grown from being an underground event to recently pulling off a world-record-breaking party with 50,000 attendees in São Paulo. 

Organiser, Santoro has proclaimed that the aim of BATEKOO is to create a safe space for marginalised communities in Brazil. BATEKOO parties are a melting pot of South America’s diverse culture. From Brazilian funk and hip-hop to an array of Afro-rhythms from the diaspora. A BATEKOO party is a celebration of life and culture. 

But even with all of the fun and celebration, BATEKOO has faced a lot of backlash. In a country where racism, homophobia and classism reign supreme, Batekoo are on the front lines fighting for those on the other side of privilege, They fight for people who dare to live freely and aim to liberate the LGBTQ+ community and Black Brazilians who will not be forced into submission.

Santoro told Mail & Guardian “BATEKOO is a statement by the black LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer] community,” says Santoro. “And that statement is we must be respected, we must be listened to. That black LGBTQ lives matter. And that if the world doesn’t want to accept us, we will create our own world.”

Founded in 2014, Batekoo has quickly become the pinnacle of the South American party scene. A few years later, BATEKOO performed abroad for the first time, with a set at Afropunk Brooklyn. We hope that BATEKOO makes a trip to London next & then takes over the rest of the world!  

Check out the GUAP Arts & Culture section, to discover new art, film, and creative individuals.