Ermínia Jorge Apolinario

The group’s goal was to ensure proper respect for the constitutional rights of our Brazilian brothers and sisters. She worked with her peers under the guidance of Jose Santos and Lelia Gonzalez, Afro Brazilian intellectual, politician, professor, anthropologist, and woman’s rights activist. Erminia sings traditional Afro Brazilian songs in hopes of keeping our heritage alive so that it can be passed onto future generations. In the early 1990s, Erminia sang with Retumba Con Pie Dance Company, Katende Band, and Nego Gato Ensemble. During her time at Nego Gato Ensemble, Ermínia worked closely with musical director Emilia Biancardi.

She has also collaborated with dance troupe O Samba and performed at Theater for the New City in New York. Ermínia has traveled with Logunede Dance Company to perform in cities like Greece, Spain, and Los Angeles, at events like Ohio’s Jazz Festival, and in theaters like New Mexico’s Popjoy under the supervision of the World Music Institute. Erminia has collaborated with Cacau Arco Verde, an artist who has featured Ermínia’s original songs on his web radio station called Catimbau, located in Pernambuco, Brazil. The radio show is called Amazonas Sonoras and features female voices from the Amazon. Erminia has also co-written songs with Cid Travaglia, recorded music in Vitoria, Espírito Santo with Leandro Bonfim (producer from Fusion Dub), and sang with Tribo Jazz Fusion Band with Jorge Amorin in New York City.

Erminia has also sat in with Eduardo Brecho and Band at Mintons in Harlem, NY. Today, Erminia sings and collaborates with groups in New York, including Movement of the People Dance Company, an Art Resistance group and sings with the all-women Afro-Brazilian percussion group called Batala New York. She also works with musical director and bass player extraordinaire Chico Jede En to record original political songs and continue singing and songwriting.