By Paul Heritage (versão em Português abaixo)
London, 7 November 2022- It is with a very heavy heart that I write with the saddest of news that Altair Martins – one of the founding members and former President of Afroreggae died yesterday. We have lost one of the dearest members of PPP’s extended family. Between 2005-7, Altair set the main stage of the Barbican alight with his limitless energy and flawless technique on the caixa. More than a tambor, his drum was a dynamic extension of his body. He led from the front of the band and inspired a generation of young people – from Vigário Geral to Hackney – to believe in hope. Altair was the change. And others followed him. His love was unflinchingly tough but his kindness and care knew no bounds. He embraced the pain and hurt of Hackney boys bewildered by their world – just as he showed that his love for them broke every boundary of language and culture. When the curtain raised each year at the Barbican or Contact Theatre in Manchester, the screaming youth in the crowd out front were those who had been coached, coaxed and caressed by Altair in the workshops that preceded the annual performances. He created a new audience of fans and followers not only amongst young people in London and Manchester but also with the Police who joined the workshops PPP set up to understand what we could learn from Altair and the drummers he led from Rio’s favelas. He was the best of us all. His laughter, love and talent are irreplaceable and we have lost both a great artist and the most loyal of friends.
His final contribution to our work at PPP was perhaps the most profound. Over three years from 2008-11 he led a transformational programme with people with learning difficulties in partnership with our friends at The Lawnmowers in Gateshead. With every muscle in his arm and heart, Altair believed that the world could be changed in a drumbeat. With The Lawnmowers he allowed himself to change and the rhythm of his work was ever more fierce because of the joy they brought to each other.
Rest in peace Altair. Your journey was one of grace and love which has left an enduring legacy in everything we do and believe at PPP.
We have received so many beautiful messages from partners and friends responding to the news of Altair’s passing.
Rachel Sanger (former PPP manager): I have such amazing memories of him performing – particularly the reaction from the kids at the Barbican when he sat along them to kick off the AR show. It was such a wonderful demonstration of the way he made people feel – like you were the centre of the world and you could do anything. What a loss. Sending hugs x
Polly Mosely: Altair was a bridge builder and his legacy is still very strong in Liverpool – the father who lost his daughter is still drumming every week, and although the young people Altair worked with directly have moved on from the youth groups, I feel there is still a strong appreciation for the difference the programme made.
Louise Owen: I’m so sorry to hear this terrible news. Altair’s energy and kindness radiated from him. He truly was an inspiration. Those sessions in Rich Mix and in Stoke Newington School were especially precious and his work such a gift. I can only imagine how many lives he brought joy and new understanding to over the years as a teacher and performer.
Please give my love and condolences to Altair’s family, friends and colleagues. And I’m sending much love to you, Paul and to everyone at PPP.
Sylvan: Meeting Altair was a major pinnacle of my life that still has implications today. This is sick sad news, but I supported by the fact I got to call him my friend and witness his spirit and work and how he touched SP many people. If you are on contact with his family and friends please pass on my love and sadness at his passing.
Richard Ings (Arts Council England):This is truly tragic news – whenever I think of AfroReggae, it is Altair’s face and energy I see and his drumming commands I hear, and the physical warmth he always displayed. I do also feel for you (Paul) and team, as well – Altair is a great loss – but, as you say, a continuing inspiration to all of us working to bring the arts to, from and with the people.
Por Paul Heritage
Londres, 7 Novembro 2022- É com enorme tristeza que recebo a notícia do falecimento de Altair Martins – um dos fundadores e ex-presidente do grupo Afroreggae. Perdemos um dos membros mais queridos da família PPP. Entre 2005-7, Altair incendiou o palco principal do Barbican em Londres com sua energia ilimitada e técnica impecável na caixa. Mais que um tambor, seu tambor era uma extensão dinâmica de seu corpo. Liderou a banda e inspirou uma geração de jovens – de Vigário Geral a Hackney – a acreditar na esperança. Altair foi a mudança. E outros o seguiram. Seu amor era inabalavelmente duro, mas sua bondade e cuidado não conheciam limites. Ele abraçou a dor e a mágoa dos jovens de Hackney confusos com seu mundo – assim como mostrou que seu amor por eles quebrou todos os limites da linguagem e da cultura. Quando a cortina se levantava a cada ano no Barbican ou Contact Theatre em Manchester, os jovens que gritavam na plateia da frente eram aqueles que haviam sido treinados, e cuidados por Altair nas oficinas que precediam as apresentações anuais. Ele criou um novo público de fãs e seguidores não apenas entre os jovens de Londres e Manchester, mas também com a Polícia que se juntou às oficinas montadas pela PPP para entender o que poderíamos aprender com Altair e os bateristas que ele liderou nas favelas do Rio. Ele era o melhor de todos nós. Sua risada, amor e talento são insubstituíveis e perdemos tanto um grande artista quanto o mais leal dos amigos.
Sua contribuição final para o nosso trabalho no PPP foi talvez a mais profunda. Durante três anos, de 2008 a 2011, ele liderou um programa de transformação com pessoas com dificuldades de aprendizado em parceria com nossos amigos da The Lawnmowers em Gateshead. Com cada músculo de seu corpo e coração, Altair acreditava que o mundo poderia ser mudado em uma batida de tambor. Com The Lawnmowers ele se permitiu mudar e o ritmo de seu trabalho foi ficando cada vez mais intenso absorvido pela alegria que esses encontros geravam.
Descanse em paz Altair. Sua jornada de amor deixou um legado duradouro em tudo o que fazemos e acreditamos na PPP.
Recebemos muitas mensagens carinhosas de amigos e parceiros. Compartilhamos aqui alguns desses comentarios sobre a morte de Altair
Gringo Cardia: Tambem fiquei chocado com a morte tao cedo deste menino brilhante amigo e generoso. Adorava ele. Ele foi o cara talvez mais importante em toda nossa historia em Londres pois fazia a ponte entre as pessoas nas ruas no palco. Ele era a grande conexão. Fiquei muito triste com esta noticia. Mas sempre vai ficar a lembrança de um garoto que ajudou muitos outros. Um anjo na Terra.
Silvia Ramos: Que choque. Aquele menino lindo, o mais sensível e sério e consciente e com o sentido de grupo. De que não era ele, mas eram eles.
Silvia Ranks: Que choque. Aquele menino lindo, sensível, sério, articulado e que carregou um imenso o sentido de grupo no projeto Juventude e Polícia, de 2003 a 2010. Aquele jovem que nos fazia ter orgulho de formular que a juventude das favelas cariocas era portadora de uma nova voz e uma nova imagem. Altair foi o mestre da “pedagogia do tambor”, que ajudou a transformar não só a vida de muitos jovens com seu exemplo, mas também de pesquisadores como eu; e até mesmo de policiais.