Discover African Diaspora in Bahia Brazil

Of the largest (15) fifteen African Diaspora populations in the world, Brazil ranks first, followed by the United States, with more than double the number of African decedents on it's soil than in the USA. 

In Bahia, Africa abounds! Salvador Bahia is the most African of all of the Brazilian cities. Nearly 90% of Bahia's  population of over three million people has African ancestry. The local Afro-Bahian cusine, music traditions, dance forms and Bahia vibrant visual arts are all testaments to this permeating African influence in Salvador and throughout the entire state of Bahia.

Salvador da Bahia has often been called the 'Soul' of Brazil, primarily because it was here that the Portuguese, African and indigenous met, melted, and produced the vibrant music, food, customs and religion typical of Bahia to this very day. Unique to this Afro-Brazilian vibe in Salvador Bahia are the numerous Terreiros de Candomblé scattered throughout the city, as well as the large percentage of Afro-Brazilians who practice Capoeira (African) martial arts.

Once the capital of Brazil, Salvador Bahia, is the hidden gem of Brazil! This city of approximately 3.6 million people and growing has managed to retain its African soul and develop the best of its colonial legacy into a unique, vibrant culture. Ornate churches still stand on cobblestone streets. Festivals are spontaneous, wild, popular and frequent. Capoeira and axé dance through the streets. Without question, Salvador is a center of Afro-Brazilian culture in Brazil. During the 17th and 18th centuries the city was a major hub of the African slave trade in Brazil. Salvador and the surrounding region still have Brazil’s largest concentration of residents of African descent.

The Candomblé religion is still flourishing in Brazil and is actively practiced by millions of black and white Brazilians. Government officials estimate that in Brazil, there are over 250,000 terreiros. Terreiros de
Candomblé are centers of worship for traditional Afro-Brazilian religion. Salvador Bahia alone is home to over 3,500 terreiros and approximately 350 churches. Perhaps, the most surprising fact is that Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world with approximately 75% of its 190 million population openly identifying themselves as Catholic, however, it is estimated that nearly 50% of all Brazilians practice some form of traditional Afro-Brazilian religion. 

Our Afro-Brazilian cultural excursions will allow our tour clients the freedom to explore the historical journey of West African slaves who first arrive in Salvador Bahia in the beginning of the colonial times in 1532 and extended up to 1888. In these three centuries and a half of slavery the black race had an important role in the economic development that started from the colonial phase and continued after the Independence. The blacks, bought in Africa, traversed the Atlantic Ocean in terrible conditions in vessels called “black ships”. As to how many slaves entered Brazil there is an estimate from a famous historian (Taunay) who calculated that approximately 3.600.000 African slaves arrived in Brazil.

The West African slaves who arrived on the shores of Brazil came from different regions and were at different stages of civilization and culture. The Islamic Sudanese were more advanced than the other groups and later because the leaders in the movements of rebellion and the creation of the “Quilombo” which was called the groups formed from the runway slaves. Some groups were less advanced and were still on the phase of fetishism with a social family structure very rudimentary. They came through the ports of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife and São Luis and once they arrived in these ports they were assembled in a shack until they were sold. Prices were in accordance with their destiny – the ones for the mines, which needed to be healthy, young and strong, were more costly.

In the mid 1600s the more important “Quilombo” formed was named Palmares in the interior of Alagoas. It became the center of the resistance against slavery. A legendary figure came out of this fight against slavery  Zumbi who became a hero of this resistance. Black Consciousness Day - November 20 - Is an annual holiday in Bahia that is similar to MLK Day in the USA. On this day the public pays tribute to Zumbi dos Palmares, revered by blacks in Brazil for his fierce resistance to slavery in the 17^th century. This day was consciously chosen to symbolize the ongoing struggles of blacks to achieve social and economic equality in Brazil.

Whether you join us here in Bahia to experience Salvador’s folkloric and cultural heritage, or its ‘over the top’ Carnival celebrations when pulsating rhythms of the trios electricos resound night and day – one thing is for sure - Brazil is waiting for you to come and immerse yourself in all of this country’s splendor and grace.

 Our next trip to Cachoeira for the Festa da Boa Morte Religious Festival is August 08 -16-2012