Paper short abstract:

In this paper I will discuss the effects of the exile of young Brazilian people from their homeland during the military dictatorship of the 1960s 70s, and the consequent migration of many of them to London.

Paper long abstract:

This paper focuses on the impact of returning exiled young Brazilians upon the cultural arena in Sao Paulo at the end of the 1970s and start of the 80s.

In 1968 the military government of Brazil closed channels of political debate and censored the media, causing many young people, mainly students, to take to the streets to demonstrate against the government. After 1969, many Brazilians, especially those who had engaged in violent political movements, were deported from the country. Some were sentenced to compulsory expatriation while others went into voluntary exile. Most migrated to European cities and some settled in London.

When they returned to Brazil at the end of 1970s, they had been heavily influenced by young people's movements in Europe, and had consequently changed their habits and behaviour. Life in London had made many rethink their violent, militant and radical practices, and caused them to engage in more peaceful democratic movements for political, economical and social changes in Brazil. This Diaspora of Brazilians to London also resulted in the establishment of what was called 'counterculture' on their return to Brazil at the start of 1980s, and affected musical movements such as Tropicalia. The Glastonbury festival influenced the 'Aguas Claras' festival in Sao Paulo in the 1970s. Furthermore, British bands hugely influenced the Sao Paulo Punk scene in the 1980s.