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Festival Afro-Bahia 2021

This year, for the first time, DC’s annual Festival Afro-Bahia went virtual and was accessible to audiences across geographic areas. This year’s theme was “As Yabas”, representing the power and reverence of women through online sessions led by women demonstrating music, dance, history, aesthetics, and includes panel discussions about socio-cultural activism and women’s experiences as musicians and artists.

June 11 – Features the movie “Dona do Terreiro” directed by Daisy Anunciação which talks about the importance of women in the Candomblé religion.

June 12 – The day’s opening honors the memory of Babalorixá Arnando Tavares the spiritual mentor of Festival Afro Bahia. He will be eternally missed. He did not like sadness, so we continue with wonderful music videos and testimonies of Mestres Tonho Materia and Badaró about the importance of Festival Afro Bahia.

Session 2 – Afro Brazilian dance workshop with movements of Yansã.

Session 3 – Workshop teaching the dance of the Ebony Goddess of Ilê Aiyê.  Followed by a Capoeira workshop for all levels.

Session 4 – Two important panels: The first one is a panel about cultural history, collaborative efforts, and social activism. Both panels delve into the importance of women empowering other women to achieve their goals and recognition.

June 13 – The event closed with the music clip “Boto Pra Mexer” by Gabi Moraes featuring Mari Antunes followed by a Turban Workshop demonstrating different styles of turbans that can be worn on many occasions and also some history of this wonderful hair garment. In closing, a celebration with a concert with world-renowned singer Tonho Materia and all-women percussion band Batalá Washington at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

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Mulheres de Axé

Mulheres de Axé (Women of Axé) is a short documentary–with English subtitles–about the Bahian women of Candomblé and their roles in leading the community, keeping their culture alive, and being at the forefront of the struggle against religious intolerance and discrimination from evangelicals. The video features many of the same women featured in another documentary called Cidade das Mulheres (City of Women) which goes deeper into the exploration of the topic of race and gender and reveals Afro-Bahian women as leaders, cultural sustainers, and the heart and soul of Salvador.

Also, check out the trailer for Cidade das Mulheres below.

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Festivals for Iabás

Iyabá, meaning “Queen Mother” in Yoruba, is a term given to all feminine orixás in Candomblé, such as Iansã (Oyá), Oxúm, and Yemanjá. During the first and second week of December these deities, along with their Catholic counterparts are celebrated.

Every December 4, thousands of Bahians attend mass and make carurus (a typical Bahian dish, of African origin, made with okra, dried shrimp, and spices) in honor of Saint Barbara and Iansã, considered to be among the most highly revered divinities in Bahia. She is the protector of firemen and the patron saint of the markets. In Candomblé, Iansã is a warrior woman who brings sudden changes and transformation. She fights with Xangô (orixá of thunder), and represented in nature as lightning, wind, and storms. Nowadays, the celebrations last 3 days and begin with the mass in the Church Nossa Senhor do Rosário dos Pretos, in Pelourinho, where the image of St. Barbara is displayed. From there, a procession is led throughout the streets of the center, passing in front of the firemen headquarters. At the end of the religious festival, the traditional caruru is given out and the celebration continues to the rhythms of samba and capoeira.

On December 8, Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia (Our Lady of Conception) is the patron saint of Bahia and celebrated at the beach. Both Oxúm (the orixá of love, prosperity, sweetness, and represented by the river and waterfalls) and Yemanjá (the orixá of motherhood, rebirth, creation, and represented in nature by the beach and the sea) are associated with the celebrations. On November 30, devotees pray for nine consecutive evenings at the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and close  their prayers with a mass and procession. At the vicinity of the Mercado Modelo (Model Market) the party continues with typical Bahian food and music.

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Day of the Baiana

Although any female from Bahia is Baiana (Bahian), the character of the Baiana has become a historical and cultural symbol of Bahia, Afro-Brazil, and the Black Woman. Typically, Baianas are women that dress in the traditional white blouse, skirt, head wrap, and colorful beads that represent the orixás of Candomblé. On the streets of Salvador, Baianas cook and sell their quitutes (tasty Afro-Bahian treats) such as acarajé, a fritter made of black-eye peas deep fried in dendê oil.

On November 25, the symbolic character of the Baiana is celebrated as part of the Mês da Consciência Negra (Black Consciousness Month). Celebrations take place with a mass at the church Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks), in Pelourinho, followed by a dance of samba de roda, and typical Bahian food.