How will the carnivals of Rio in Brazil and Oruro in Bolivia take place?

In Nice, the carnival began on Saturday February 11 with a large colorful parade. This edition, the first to return to a classic format after the Covid, marks the 150th anniversary of this event where 200,000 people are expected until Sunday February 26. In Brazil in Rio, just like in Oruro in Bolivia, festival-goers are also preparing for the 2023 edition of the carnival.

A festive atmosphere without fear of the Covid, in Rio

The Rio Carnival in Brazil officially begins on Friday evening, February 17. In town, the crowd is already there and the pre-carnival atmosphere was already very festive. The sambodromo where the samba schools will perform has been renovated and has new lighting and above all the atmosphere is at its highest. Because after the pandemic, the carnival finally returns free from the fear of contagion by being able to openly mock the far right. According to forecasts by the city of Rio de Janeiro, nearly 400 million euros circulate during the carnival on average in one week. A godsend that comes well in times of economic crisis and which will undoubtedly be even more important this year because all the hotels are full.

Cascading controversies for the D’Oruro carnival

The Oruro Carnival is the other South American carnival. This unmissable event in Bolivia kicks off on Saturday. Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage Site, it attracts between 400,000 and 500,000 visitors each year. This meeting generates around 40 million dollars, between the sale of alcohol, meals, seats in the stands or reservations of accommodation. Beyond the festive aspect, the carnival fuels its share of controversies. In 2017, videos of drunk dancers in church at the end of the course were broadcast on social networks and caused a scandal. In 2018, an artist was declared persona non grata for representing the Virgin in a thong. This year, the controversy comes from suspicions of homophobia against a couple of gay dancers, who would have been criticized by authorities in the city of Oruro. These successive scandals are in fact a reflection of Bolivian society and its developments.