Rainhas da Bateria – London School of Samba

London School of Samba - photo of the drummers and dancers at a London Samba Gig

This page on our website is all about the amazing Rainhas da Bateria (Queen of the drums) for the London School of Samba over the years.  The Rainha da Bateria or Queen of the drums is one of the highest positions of honour in a Samba School both in Rio and worldwide. The Rainha da Bateria, or Queen of the drums, is right in front of up to 300 drummers at Rio Carnival!

London School of Samba Rainhas at 30th Anniversary

Here is a video showing some of our fantastic Rainhas da Bateria in action!  The video was from the London School of Samba 30th anniversary party.  It features the following London Schoo of Samba Rainhas.

  • Mariana Whitehouse (2000 – 2001)
  • Rosaria Gracia-Luque (2001 – 2002)
  • Samara Reis (2003 – 2004)
  • Ella Peck (2008 – 2009)
  • Zara Walker (2009 – 2010)
  • Orquidea Lima Felgueiras (2010 – 2011)
  • Yazzmin Newell (2012 – 2013)
  • Jo Wierzbinska (2013 – 2014)
  • Many of the other Rainhas could not attend as either living overseas or not living in London.

History of the Rainha in a Samba School

The first Rainhas da Baterias started to appear in the 1970s. One of the very first was Adele Fatima who led the drummers (bateria) from Mocidade da Intependente de Padre Miguel at carnival.

The idea behind the Rainha da Bateria is to help the Bateria (samba drummers) to give it their all and play their hearts out to honour the samba school. Her role is to parade in front of the drummers, proudly strutting and exciting the crowd for the samba school to parade down the Sambodromo.

First every London School of Samba Rainha da Bateria

The London School of Samba had our first queen in 1994 and there have now been 20 different Rainha Da Bateria. The first LSS Rainha da Bateria competition was held a few years later in 1998 in Waterloo. It is usually held in the second half of July in time for the August Notting Hill Carnival Parade.

Rainha da Coburg Conpetition at International Samba Festival

The International Samba Festival in Coburg in Germany is a place where our Rainhas da Bateria have done well.  The London School of Samba Rainhas has won top prizes: in 2004, 2008 & 2013.

List of Rainhas da Bateria for the London School of Samba

Below is our list of Rainhas da Bateria for the London School of Samba.  Over the years we have had some fantastic Samba Queens or Rainhas lead the London School of Samba.  A big thank you to all our Queens past and present for representing the bateria and the London School of Samba.

Our Current Queen

2018 – 2019 Nina Appio

(Photo: haridas_dop )

 

Musa

2017 – Present – Patsy Samba

(Photo: ) Wayne Campbell

Rei Da Folia

2018 – Present – Nathan Gapomo

(Photo: ) tantse.co.uk

2019-2020 Queen Comp

To Be Determined at a future date

2018 – 2019 Nina Appio

(Photo: haridas_dop )

2017 – 2018 Lucy Laetitia

(Photo: Brian Guttridge)

2016 – 2017 Hannah Acido

(Photo: Wayne Campbell)

2015 – 2016 Patsy Samba

(Photo: Mo Elandi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 – 2015 Kanika Findley-Chin
(Photo: Wayne Campbell)

Rainha da Bateria 2013 - 2014 Jo Wierzbinska

2013 – 2014 Jo Wierzbinska

Photo: Matthew Johns

Rainha da Bateria 2012 - 2013 Yazzmin Newell

2012 – 2013 Yazzmin Newell

(Photo: John Lastauskas)

2011 – 2012 Karla-Jayne Thomas

(Photo: M Johns)

Rainha da Bateria 2010 - 2011 Orquidea Felgueiras

2010 – 2011 Orquidea Felgueiras

Photo: LSS Archive

2009 – 2010 Zara Walker

(Photo: LSS Archive)

Rainha da Bateria 2008 - 2009 Ella Peck

2008 – 2009 Ella Peck

(Photo: LSS Archive)

2007 – 2008 Kati S

(Photo: Paul Brooks photogrpahy)

Rainha da Bateria 2006 - 2007 Charlotte Seguro Tome

2006 – 2007 Charlotte Seguro Tome

(Photo: LSS Archive)

Rainha da Bateria 2005 - 2006 Aparacida Morrison

2005 – 2006 Aparacida Morrison

(Photo: Rob Cummins)

Rainha da Bateria 2004 - 2005 Sasha Koura

2004 – 2005 Sasha Koura

(Photo: LSS Archive)

Rainha da Bateria 2003 - 2004 Samara Reis

2003 – 2004 Samara Reis

(Photo: Leila Peerun)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002 – 2003 Laura Xavier

(Photo: Paul Marwood)

 

Rainha da Bateria 2001 - 2002 Rosaria Gracia-Luque

2001 – 2002 Rosaria Gracia-Luque

(Photo: Leila Peerun)

 

Rainha da Bateria 2000 - 2001 Mariana Whitehouse

2000 – 2001 Mariana Whitehouse

(Photo: Paul Marwood)

1999 – 2000 Luciana de Oliveira

1998 – 1999 Rachel Williams-Smith

Rainha da Bateria 1994 - 1995 Maite de Oliveira

1994 – 1997 Maite de Oliveira

(Photo: LSS Archive)

Rei Da Folia – London School of Samba

2018 – Present – Nathan Gapomo

(Photo: ) 

2015 – 2018 – Chris Do Funk

(Photo: ) Wayne Campbell

2014 – Carlinhos De Salguiro

(Photo: ) Wayne Campbell

 

Contact London School of Samba

Do you have any photos of our current or past Rainhas da Baterias?  If you do, we would love to share them on our facebook, Instagram and other social media sites.  If you are interested in our fantastic Samba dance classes in London or want to find out more about us, it’s easy to contact the team.  You can contact the London School of Samba by emailing us at the following email addresses: