Gilberto Gil

Gilberto Gil, the Brazilian Minister of Culture, is an internationally renowned musician who helped to establish the Tropicalismo movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Brazil's new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, named Gil to head the Ministry of Culture, where he is now aiming to bring the "soul" and spirit of Brazilian culture to more audiences in music, film and literature worldwide. Meanwhile, his Ministry aims to help infuse that soul with more energy from the less privileged groups in society -- "from the bottom up," he said in a 2003 Newsweek article.

"We want to express the importance of culture -- literature, music, cinema -- in international relations," he says. "People don't want a separation of politics and art anymore." His creativity has been nourished by insights from a global range of spiritual, philosophical, political and cultural sources. Gil, now 60 years of age, sees a natural connection between his artistic instincts and his involvement in government. "Politics is an art form," he says. "I came here to practice the art of politics in a Ministry dedicated to the politics of art."

Gil's music has been about breaking down boundaries, too. The Tropicalismo style which he personifies blends sounds such as samba, salsa, bossanova and jazz. He has continued to record in a number of styles, including reggae and funk. As Minister of Culture, he continues to perform his music as his government duties permit.

Download Oslodum by Gilberto Gil here.

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