Refavela

Gil wrote it after his month at FESTAC 77 in Lagos, where housing blocks that reminded him of Brazil's public housing projects gave him the title, an urban counterpart to the rural Refazenda. He also pointed to Rio's Black Rio youth movement. The sound drew on Fela Kuti's afrobeat, juju, American funk and reggae, and on Salvador's blocos Ilê Aiyê and Filhos de Gandhy. On tour he wore braids and African-style tunics. It was his last album for Phonogram after eleven years.

Gil was never fully happy with the original mix, and when Warner reissued the record in 1984 he asked to remix it, the only time in his career he did so, according to his son Bem Gil. Sounds and Colours called it another career highlight, and Rolling Stone Brasil ranked it 54th among the greatest Brazilian albums in 2007. Bem Gil staged Refavela 40 shows with Céu, Moreno Veloso and Maíra Freitas in 2017, opening at Circo Voador in Rio.