Olodum. traditional percussion with newer hip-hop and rap beats
Timbalada: the newest and hippest thing in town. This band combines traditional percussive music as played by the well-known band Olodum with newer hip-hop and rap.
Capoeira, outside on a market square in Bahia
Capoeira, the dance/fighting sport, being performed outside on a market square. This is a regular meeting place for the performers, who made the stage themselves and perform with the hope of raising money to support their clubs throughout the country.
Getting into the spirit of things
Getting into the spirit of things. Music is an every day part of life.
Christian devotion meets sensuality
Christian devotion meets sensuality and beauty, a combination apparent in all aspects of life in Bahia.
Umbanda ritual ,religious beliefs revolved around music .
Anything can make a drumbeat. This woman is making music with a spoon and plate in an Umbanda ritual, with drummers playing in accompaniment. Slave culture and its religious beliefs revolved around music and, in particular, rhythm. Trance-states are reached through losing oneself in the hypnotic beat of a drum.
Candomble ritual led by the the priestess representing the goddess
Performance of a CandomblÈ ritual led by the M„e de Santo, the priestess representing the goddess, underneath a canopy. This is another testimony to the survival of traditional African ritual dance and percussion.
A sugar-cane plantation worker.
A sugar-cane plantation worker.
Timbalada: traditional percussion with newer hip-hop and rap beats
Grupo Cultural Olodum, better known as just Olodum, the most popular carnival band in Salvador, giving a local performance. They perform weekly, and have performed alongside the likes of Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Cliff, David Byrne and Michael Jackson. Nelson Mandela visited their headquarters in 1991.
F. Leeuwenberg/The Cover Story
A coastal monastery with a spectacular view at Igarassu.
A coastal monastery with a spectacular view at Igarassu.
Women posing in traditional Bahia dress.
Women posing in traditional Bahia dress.
A Maracatu performance. This is one of the earliest musical styles which emerged out of slave culture .
A Maracatu performance. This is one of the earliest musical styles which emerged out of slave culture and is noted for its emphasis on drumming, sometimes accompanied by flute or guitar, and is guaranteed to make any listener want to dance.
Children living a carefree life in Lencois.
Children living a carefree life in LenÁois.
A typical rural village on the outskirts of Salvador
A typical rural village on the outskirts of Salvador.
The gods of food, raised on stilts .
The gods of food, raised on stilts and dancing to drumming rhythms. This is a common sight in Bahia with a lot of show and colour.
Growing up in Bahia means living life to a rhythmic beat.
Growing up in Bahia means living life to a rhythmic beat.
The coast of the jewel island Tinhar
The coast of the jewel island Tinhar where Brazilians and tourists go to party and relax.
A Salvador woman standing in a waterfall.
A Salvador woman with Portuguese and African blood, standing in a waterfall. The racial intermingling has produced a population famous for its beauty.
Centre of Salvador, the Pelourinho district
View of the centre of Salvador, the Pelourinho district, which was renovated recently to do full justice to the bright pastels of the 17th, 18th and 19th century buildings’ facades.
Racial intermingling has produced a population famous for its beauty.
A Salvador woman with Portuguese and African blood, basking in the Brazilian sunshine. The racial intermingling has produced a population famous for its beauty.
Bahian culture melds African, Portuguese, and Indian influences
Bahian culture melds African, Portuguese, and Indian influences, giving it a colourful flavour all its own.
An impromptu street dance.
An impromptu street dance. This is perfectly normal in Bahia where every opportunity to dance is grabbed wholeheartedly – live music, car stereos, anything will do.
Futuristic architecture at Salvador
An example of the futuristic architecture for which Brazil is internationally renowned.
The village Lencois
The village LenÁois from which one of the country’s most stunning natural parks, Japada Diamantinho, can be visited. The village boasts old colonial architecture and is around 200 km inland from Salvador.
Woman enjoying a percussion performance
Woman enjoying a percussion performance, wearing traditional African clothes.
Japada Diamantinho natural park
Japada Diamantinho natural park, looking not unlike the Grand Canyon Brazilian-style.
Grupo Cultural Olodum Performed with Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, David Byrne and Michael Jackson.
Grupo Cultural Olodum, better known as just Olodum, the most popular carnival band in Salvador, giving a local performance. They perform weekly, and have performed alongside the likes of Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Cliff, David Byrne and Michael Jackson. Nelson Mandela visited their headquarters in 1991.
Birthday girl in Salvador.
Birthday girl in Salvador.
