Berta Pereira

Berta Pereira Majó (born June 10, 1958) is a Uruguayan percussionist, dancer, and actor who specializes in Afro-Uruguayan themes. In 1995, she founded the group Berta Pereira y las Comadres, which focuses on Afro-Uruguayan music and folklore. The band is well known for their candombe style of music and their participation in Memoria para armar, a musical performance and dramatic reading of testimonies by women imprisoned under the Uruguayan military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography Born in Montevideo, Pereira grew up in a musical family, with both her parents playing the guitar. She later formed her band named "Acertijo" together with Ventura Dríguez, Franz Gutiérrez and Marie Sanjur. This opening consists of a group of women percussionists with large drums singing, yelling, and applauding while acting out the washing of clothing (white cloth) in a very afro-centric style. Pereira, who enters the stage carrying a bundle of laundry on her head, states "Traje un montón de ropa para lavar. Tengo tanta historia para lavar." ("I brought a ton of laundry to wash. I have so much history to wash.") She collaborated with poet on a CD and live poetry performance Tamudando in 2009.

Pereira has released a number of CDs including "Comerse una manzana", "Bicho de luz", "Comadres", "Ambrosio", "Pedrito Malasartes" and "Gracias". Pereira and Píriz have been nominated for the Uruguayan for their CD's "Ambrosio" and "Gracias". According to Pereira, some of her most important musical influences have been Elis Regina, , Maria Joao, Lenine, Richard Bona and Hugo Fattoruso. Ambrosio (with Pollo Píriz) (2008) Tamudando (with Luis Bravo) (2009)