The color of sound: african representations in the context of Brazilian phonographic industry

Abstract

This paper seeks to discuss sound archives as tools for the comprehension of colonial, racial and ethnic alterities and representations. Through a brief case study focused on Geraldo Magalhães - the first black Brazilian singer to achieve commercial success in Europe, in the beginning of the 20th century – I try to understand how a series of sound strategies were used to enable the insertion of black musicians in the context of phonographic industries. I argue that this process was related to the creation of stereotypes linked to black singers and musicians, where elements such as ethnicity, comedy, sensuality and alterity played a central role in the dynamics of incorporation of these musicians in the entertainment system provided by the phonographic industries in this period.