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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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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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National Day of the Samba

On December 2, National Samba Day celebrates one of most significant musical rhythms for Brazilian culture and is commemorated with public shows of famous musicians in the historical center of Salvador. The National Day of Samba came about as the initiative of one councilman from Bahia, Luis Monteiro da Costa, to pay tribute to the Brazilian composer Ary Barroso.  Barroso had already composed his first hit called Na Baixa do Sapateiro, an ode to the city of Salvador even though he had never set foot in Bahia at the time.  December 2nd was the date he visited Salvador for the first time and the party was spread throughout Brazil and became a national samba celebration.

Brazilian Popular Music – also known by its acronym MBP, has several musical genres, like marcha, canção, baião, xaxado, embolada, frevo, etc…The most remarkable, although, and which became the mark for singing and dancing in Brazil is the Samba.  Samba resulted from the first African samba de rodas in Bahia in the end of 16th century and the beginning of 17th and was later combined with lundu, polka, habanera, tango, and maxixe. Furthermore, throughout centuries, Afro-Brazilians in Bahia would have dancing parties that were also called samba.  From 1538 to 1888, enslaved Africans came from different nations and tribes, in which cultures were different one from each other.  Therefore, their various habits and customs had influence in Brazilian art and culture becoming part of the Brazilian Popular Music and Carnaval.

Bahia’s “old aunties” (such as Tia Ciata), who moved to Rio de Janeiro, planted the seed of the samba in the neighborhoods near the center of the city. Moreover, in the 20th century, by mixing profane and religious festivals with song and dance for both pleasure and for faith, the “aunties” started the development of samba players who grew in number and popularity through the 1920’s and beyond.

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Santos Cosme e Damião (and Caruru!)

The festa of São Cosme and São Damião (Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian) occurs on the 27th of September. It’s a day when everybody eats carurú, a kind of vegetable stew made from quiabo (okra), dried shrimp, dendê oil, and ground cashews. However, whenever someone says they are having a carurú, they mean that guests are served a traditional plate that includes this food (plus vatapá, among other things). It’s one of many traditional Bahian holidays celebrated by people coming together in family, food, and friendship. Since the two saints were twin brothers, Cosme and Damião are syncretized with the orixá of twin children called Ibeji.

RECIPE – CARURU

2 lbs. okra, trimmed and cut into small rounds

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger

1 lb. dried small smoked shrimp (found in African or International markets), ground in food processor

1/2 lb. roasted, unsalted, cashews, ground in food processor

3/4 cup dendê oil

juice of one lime

hot water

Heat the dendê oil in a large heavy saucepan, add the onion and garlic and fry until soft. Add the ginger and cook for an additional minute or two. Add the okra, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the okra is soft. Add the ground shrimp and cashews, and cook for an additional five minutes. Add water just to cover. Continue to cook at low temperature, checking consistency. If the dish becomes very thick and slippery, add the lime juice. Let cook until the okra seeds change color from white to rosy-pink, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Source: http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com/2009/10/recipe-caruru.html