Samba spectacular brings Rio riot of colour

Dancers dressed as slaves pushed a float decked out as the ship that brought the Portuguese royal family to Brazil two centuries ago, marking the final night of Rio’s annual carnival parade.

Donned in golden conquistador outfits, hundreds of drummers from the Mocidade de Independente samba group beat time to propel its 4,500 members down the Sambadrome stadium’s half-mile long parade ground.