Image source, PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP
The Viradouro samba school has won Rio de Janeiro's hotly contested Carnival parade competition with its tribute to black women.
Image source, Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Viradouro was the last samba school to parade in the two-day contest held before Ash Wednesday. Viradouro said it wanted to honour a cobra which is considered sacred in some parts of the African country of Benin.
Image source, ANDRE COELHO/EPA
The group said it wanted to highlight Brazil's historic ties with Benin, from where many of the people who were taken to Brazil as slaves came from.
Image source, ANDRE COELHO/EPA
Snakes featured heavily in their parade, not just in the form of floats...
Image source, ANDRE COELHO/EPA
...but also in the dancers' headgear.
Image source, Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
The group also celebrated voodoo beliefs, its artistic director told Brazilian news site G1.
Image source, PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP
Drums featured heavily as the group paraded through the Sambadrome, the venue which hosts the annual competition.
Image source, PABLO PORCIUNCULA/Getty
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