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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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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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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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Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’ Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’re so excited for it! Join us for any or all of our performances! Saturday 12p: Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival @ngadc 3:30p: Mt Pleasant family show @dcpl Sunday 5pm: Season Opener halftime show @washingtonspirit
Hi friends! Be sure to catch us at our next show w Hi friends! Be sure to catch us at our next show when we play at the Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival @ngadc National Gallery of Art on April 30th at 12pm.
Also, check out this great exhibition that opens tomorrow. 
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Another @runrocknroll in the books! Congrats to al Another @runrocknroll in the books! Congrats to all the runners! Also, shout out to all the race staff, volunteers, and city employees that make it all happen! 👟🥁 #batalahey
International Women’s Day - Celebrated annually International Women’s Day - Celebrated annually on March 8. Is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women. Women in different parts of the world use this day to come together to celebrate one another and rally for equal treatment and representation. Batala Hey to all the wonderful women of the world! 🎉❤️💃🏽🎶🥁
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We had a fabulous time celebrating Mardi Gras yest We had a fabulous time celebrating Mardi Gras yesterday with everyone that came out to @thewharfdc for the parade! #mardigras #bataláhey ⚜️💚💜❤️🥁 

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Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturd Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturday? Batalá Washington will be participating at this year’s Mardi Grass Parade at The Wharf. Festivities start at 3pm. February 26 at 3pm. Hope to see you there! 

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Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington! Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington!
Batalá Washington’s mission is to empower women through music and drumming and to expose our DC community to the Afro-Brazilian, most specifically to the Afro-Bahian, music and culture. We celebrate and honor all the Afro-Brazilian artists and musicians who inspire us every day.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 to our Batala DC Familia. Wish HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 to our Batala DC Familia. Wishing the new year brings much happiness, health and samba reggae and funk beats to all. Feliz Ano Novo. Batala Hey!.
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We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for a We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for all the runners of the @runrocknroll half marathon! Thanks to all the runners, staff, volunteers, first responders and crowd for a great race! 👟🥁
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