Bahian Culture

Fundraiser to Support Afro-Bahian Cultural Space in DC – Conexões Ancestrais: Celebrating Our Journey

FICA DC has been one of the leading organizations that have been the center for educating and promoting Afro-Bahian culture in DC.

Currently, they are in jeopardy of being dislocated because of the financial uncertainty of the organization that hosts their space (Emergence Community Arts Collective).

If you want to support access to community arts programs and cultural programs that represent the Afro-Bahian community in DC (including Festival Afro-Bahia which Batala has always been a part of), please consider attending this fundraiser event next week, or making a small donation, and share with your friends.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conexoes-ancestrais-celebrating-our-journey-tickets-72096481517

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Portuguese – English Glossary

If you’ve attended Batala Washington’s yearly Be a Drummer for a Day event, you may find learning these terms useful.

*A Cultura*	The Culture
*Adeus / Tchau*	Goodbye
*Agogô*	Musical instrument similar to an iron cowbell and stick that is played in traditional Yoruba music as well as in samba baterias
*Atabaque*	Drum played in religious settings
*Até logo*	See you later
*Axé*	A Yoruba word used in Candomblé religion that means life force, divine power, essence of being or existence, but also has a similar meaning to “amen.” Also used as colloquial expression in Bahia to greet or express good vibes, agreement, well-being. Also describes a genre of music.
*Bahia*	A state in northeastern Brazil which has the capital city of Salvador, the birthplace of Samba Reggae music. “Bahia” also means “bay” in Portuguese.
*Baiano(a)*	Someone from the state of Bahia
*Banda*	Band
*Banda Feminina*	Female Band
*Banda de Percussão*	Percussion Band
*Batucada*	The drumming sounds that the band makes
*Bebidas*	Drinks
*Bem-vindos(as)*	Welcome
*Bloco*	Group of masqueraders marching/dancing/playing with a particular band
*Blocos-Afro*	Afro-Blocos (Afro-Brazilian organizations that plan and put on samba-reggae parades during Carnival, common in Salvador. Like a samba school, but these organizations are Afro-centric in their cultural themes and community-driven purpose and play samba-reggae. They typically have many other social functions and may serve as the community center in a neighborhood)
*Boa noite*	Good night
*Boa tarde*	Good afternoon
*Bom dia*	Good morning
*Caixa*	Snare drum
*Canção / Canto*	Song / Chant
*Candomblé*	A West African based religion primarily influenced by Yoruba, but also Fon and Bantu ethnic groups, spiritual traditions with some Catholic elements. It is practiced by many throughout Brazil, but especially in Bahia where the religious iconography is interwoven throughout the cultural landscape.
*Carnaval*	Carnival
*Dança*	Dance
*Desfile*	Parade
*Diversão*	Fun
*Dobra*	Smaller, mid-tone bass drum
*Ensaio*	Rehearsal
*Escola de Samba*	Samba School (an organization that plans and puts on samba parades during Carnival. It typically has many other social functions and may serve as the community center in its neighborhood)
*Fantasia*	Costume
*Fãs*	Fans
*Festa*	Party / Festival
*Fotos*	Photos
*Instrumentos Musicais*	Musical Instruments
*Iorubá*	Yoruba (an ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria and eastern Benin that were enslaved and taken to Bahia, Brazil. Samba-Reggae music and Bahian culture is heavily influenced by the Yoruba language, culture, and religion maintained by Afro-descendants.
*“Legal!”*	“Cool!”
*Maestra(o)*	Conductor
*Música*	Music
*Obrigada(o)*	Thank you
*Olá*	Hello
*“Oxente!”*	Colloquial expression used in Bahia to express surprise or disbelief
*Pandeiro*	A small frame drum that looks similar to a tambourine in size and shape, but without the jingles and played with a stick.
*Pintura de Rosto*	Face Painting
*Por Favor*	Please
*Repinique / Repique*	High pitched drum that carries the clave or is the “caller” in Samba Reggae rhythms
*Ritmo*	Rhythm
*Roda*	Circle
*Samba-Reggae / Samba-Afro / Afro-Reggae*	Samba-Reggae (a genre of music that is a mixture of samba and reggae rhythms that was developed in Salvador, Bahia in the 1970s and 80s)
*Saudução / Saudações*	Greeting / Greetings
*Show*	Show
*Surdo / Fundo*	Bass drum
*Tambor*	Drum
*Tamborista*	Drummer
*Tempo*	Tempo
*Timbau*	Timbal (A tall, conical shaped drum, played by hand like the atabaque.)
*Xequerê*	Shekere (a West African instrument made from a hollow gourd with a netting of beads wrapped around it. The sound is made by shaking it or hitting it against the hand rhythmically.)

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Afro-Bahian History and Culture Reading Resource List

Resources in English

Journal Articles

Afro-Brazilian citizenship and the politics of history, by Sean T. Mitchell, (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17528631.2016.1189765)
The role of culture in Brazil’s Unified Black Movement, Bahia in 1992, by David Covin (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F002193479602700103)
Afro-Bahian carnival: A stage for protest, by Christopher Dunn (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41417220)
Olodum da Bahia: A history of cultural inclusion, by Ruy José Braga Duarte (https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/1352)
Religion and black cultural identity: Roman catholics, Afro-Brazilians, and Neopentacostalism, by Vagner Gonçalves da Silva (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/vb/v11n2/a08v11n2.pdf)
Resistance and citizenship in the songs of Ilê Aiyê and Olodum, by Antonio Luciano Tosta (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41349348?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents)

Books

African-Brazilian Culture and Regional Identity in Bahia, Brazil, by Scott Ickes
Slave Rebellion in Brazil: The Muslim Uprising of 1835 in Bahia, by João José Reis
Axé Bahia: The Power of Art in an Afro-Brazilian Metropolis, by Patrick A. Polk, Roberto Conduru, Sabrina Gledhill, Randal Johnson
Brazil’s New Racial Politics, edited by Bernd Reiter and Gladys L. Mitchell
Capoeira: The History of an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art, by Matthias Röhrig Assunção
Brazilian Popular Music and Globalisation, by Charles A. Perrone & Christopher Dunn
Brazil, Mixture or Massacre?: Essays of a Genocide of a Black People, by Abdias do Nascimento
Afro-Politics and Civil Society in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, by Kwame Dixon
The Masters and the Slaves: A study in the development of Brazilian civilization, by Gilberto Freyre

Fiction Novels

Cacao, by Jorge Amado
The War of the Saints, by Jorge Amado
Tent of Miracles, by Jorge Amado

Blogs

Batala Washington Afro-Bahian Culture Blog http://www.batalawashington.com/bahian-culture/
Black Women of Brazil (https://blackwomenofbrazil.co/)
Candomblé USA (https://candombleusa.wordpress.com/)
Candomblé (http://jonhardeman.wixsite.com/teaching/candomble)

Website articles

Africa in Brazil: How Ilê Aiyê Brought Blackness to Salvador’s Carnival (https://www.okayafrica.com/how-ile-aiye-changed-salvadors-carnival-forever-and-uplifted-black-people-in-brazil/)
Samba and Misogynoir: Will 2018 Be the Last Year of Blackface in Brazil’s Carnival? (https://theglowup.theroot.com/samba-misogynoir-will-2018-be-the-last-year-of-black-1822964862)
Afro-Brazilian History, Beats, and Culture (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauri-lyons/afro-brazilian-history-be_b_452877.html)
They Told The Women of Bahia They Couldn’t Drum. Try Telling That to Banda Didá (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/travel/brazil-all-female-drums-bahia-banda-dida.html)

Films

Yemanjá: Wisdom from the African Heart of Brazil (http://www.yemanjathefilm.com/)
Rhythmic Uprising (http://www.rhythmicuprising.org/)
Ebony Goddess: Queen of Îlé Aiyé (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ3z4nudtA)
Salvador Dawning
Festive Land: Carnaval in Bahia (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382693/plotsummary?ref_=kw_pl)
Ilê Aiyê (The House of Life) (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002MFG3W)
Black in Latin America: Brazil, A Racial Paradise? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh7c46U5hhY)
The Summer of Gods (http://www.thesummerofgods.com/)
The Loudest Show On Earth (https://vimeo.com/76980265)

Radio Podcasts

Interfaith Voices – God & Government: Brazil Beyond Catholicism (featuring Batalá Washington in final segment at 34:45) (http://interfaithradio.org/Archive/2018-September/God_and_Government__Brazil_beyond_Catholicism)

Recursos em Português

Artigos de Jornal

Da África ao Afro: Uso e abuso da África entre os intelectuais e na cultura popular Brasileira durante o século XX, por Livio Sansone (https://rigs.ufba.br/index.php/afroasia/article/viewFile/21038/13637)
Referências sociais das religiões Afro-Brasileiras: sincretismo, branqueamento, africanizacão, por Reginaldo Prandi (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/ha/v4n8/0104-7183-ha-4-8-0151.pdf)
Religiosidade, rebelião, e identidade afro-baiana (http://www.historia.uff.br/tempo/entrevistas/entres11-2.pdf)

Livros

Genocídio do negro brasileiro: Processo de um Racismo Mascarado, por Abdias do Nascimento
A Trama dos Tambores: a musica afro-pop de Salvador, por Goli Guerreiro
Casa Grande & Senzala, por Gilberto Freyre

Romances de Ficção

Cacau, por Jorge Amado
O Sumiço da Santa, por Jorge Amado
Tenda dos Milagres, por Jorge Amado

Blogues

Mundo Afro (http://mundoafro.atarde.uol.com.br/)
Portal da Cultura Afro-Brasileira (https://www.faecpr.edu.br/site/portal_afro_brasileira/3_III.php)
Geledes Instituto da Mulher Negra (https://www.geledes.org.br/)

Artigos do site

Dia da Consciência Negra: História de Contribuição (https://jornalibia.com.br/montenegro/dia-da-consciencia-negra-historia-de-contribuicao/)
Raízes do Carnaval: A gema carioca é afro-baiana (http://www.pordentrodaafrica.com/cultura/a-gema-carioca-e-afro-baiana)
5 blocos afro que mostram a forca da cultura negra do carnaval (https://www.huffpostbrasil.com/2017/02/24/5-blocos-afro-que-mostram-a-forca-da-cultura-negra-no-carnaval_a_21721328/)
10 mulheres negras que fazem a diferença na Bahia (https://www.geledes.org.br/10-mulheres-negras-que-fazem-a-diferenca-na-bahia/)
A RESISTÊNCIA E A BELEZA DOS BLOCOS AFRO (2012)
(http://www.elcabong.com.br/musica-afro-a-resistencia-e-a-beleza/)
O feminismo negro: entrevista com Djamila Ribeiro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1mh7N8Caw)

Filmes

Samba-Reggae: A Arma é Musical Parte 1 (https://youtu.be/3olgEc74LfM)
Samba-Reggae: A Arma é Musical Parte 2 (https://youtu.be/C11zDd4VJWQ)
Samba-Reggae: A Arma é Musical Parte 3 (https://youtu.be/kIntkHiEkTk)
Ebony Goddess: Queen of Îlé Aiyé (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ3z4nudtA)
Iemanjá : Sabedoria ecológica do coração do Brasil (http://www.yemanjathefilm.com/)
O Tempo dos Orixás (http://www.thesummerofgods.com/filme/)
Ilê Aiyê (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002MFG3W)
Insurreição Rítmica (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1331101/?ref_=kw_li_tt)

Music / Música

Oriki: Chants et Rhythmes du Candomblé [Songs and Rhythms of Candomblé] (CD) – https://www.amazon.com/Oriki-Chants-danses-du-Candomble/dp/B0041BBYOA / https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mteOnMwPjP5Ehv5wWLQf0vPN1ypwIFAL8
Batala Mundo Discography (https://www.mundobatala.com/en/discography)

Afro-Bloco / Bloco-Afro Videos

Cortejo Afro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0O9n5UF4eA | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awy6IqLoouw)
Olodum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HbP42bDwJE)
Ilê Ayê (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6yayr0WHA4 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4auE-7YzhE)
Malê Debalê (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTgV6yZkLyw&t=115s)
Muzenza (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXrlx8LSfkQ&list=PL8C3633DA45EB0E4A&index=6)
Didá (https://youtu.be/09NqOo84MkA)

Names to Know of Afro-Bahian Samba-Reggae Movement /

Nomes para Saber do Movimento Samba-Reggae Afro-Baiano

Giba Gonçalves [Batalá Mundo] (https://www.mundobatala.com/en/batala-en/giba-goncalves)
Neguinho da Samba (http://www.carnaval.com/drum/neguinho/)
Carlinhos Brown (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlinhos_Brown)
Alberto Pitta (http://www.cortejoafro.com.br/alberto-pitta/)
Ilê Ayê (http://www.ileaiyeoficial.com/)
Olodum (http://www.narin.com/olodum/)
Timbalada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbalada)
Ara Ketu (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ara-ketu-mn0000595035 | https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Ketu)
Muzenza (https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRC_Muzenza)
Malê Debalê (http://www.maledebale.com.br/o-bloco/)
Cortejo Afro (http://www.cortejoafro.com.br/)
Filhos de Gandhy (http://filhosdegandhy.com.br/)
Margareth Menezes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margareth_Menezes | https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margareth_Menezes)
Daniela Mercury (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniela_Mercury)
Didá Banda Feminina (http://www.dida-salvador.com/english.html | http://www.dida-salvador.com)
Gerônimo Santana (https://geronimocantor.com/)

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Interview with Bahian Music Artist Rafael Pondé

Bahian music artist, Rafael Pondé talks DJ Soul Rebel about Bahia and the world sounds of Brazilian music on Roots Rock Reggae radio show at Takoma Park Radio, 94.3 FM.

Interview, Part 1

Watch part 2 of the interview here.

Also, check out one of his recent releases, a collaboration with Batalá Washington, Jah Innocence.

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A Cultura

Adeus / Tchau

Agogô

Atabaque

Até logo

Axé

Bahia

Baiano(a)

Banda

Banda Feminina

Banda de Percussão

Batucada

Bebidas

Bem-vindos(as)

Bloco

Blocos-Afro

Boa noite

Boa tarde

Bom dia

Caixa

Canção / Canto

Candomblé

Carnaval

Dança

Desfile

Diversão

Dobra

Ensaio

Escola de Samba

Fantasia

Fãs

Festa

Fotos

Instrumentos Musicais

Iorubá

“Legal!”

Maestra(o)

Música

Obrigada(o)

Olá

“Oxente!”

Pandeiro

Pintura de Rosto

Por Favor

Repinique / Repique

Ritmo

Roda

Samba-Reggae / Samba-Afro / Afro-Reggae

Saudução / Saudações

Show

Surdo / Fundo

Tambor

Tamborista

Tempo

Timbau

Xequerê

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Resources in English

Recursos em Português

Music / Música

Afro-Bloco / Bloco-Afro Videos

Names to Know of Afro-Bahian Samba-Reggae Movement /

Nomes para Saber do Movimento Samba-Reggae Afro-Baiano

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