Story of Bahia
1549, General Tome de Souza’s Portuguese caravelles descend on Bahia.
Standing in front of the country’s riches, and facing a lack of manpower to exploit the wealth, the Portuguese progressively deported millions of slaves from Guinea and Angola. Forcefully removed from their continent, the African slaves never abandoned their religious beliefs or rituals. By disguising their gods behind the Christian figures that were imposed upon them, the heart of the African continent continued to beat and the Candomblé faith was born.
When slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, Bahia was a melting pot of European, African and Amerindian cultures. Today, “São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos” remains the most African of all the Brazilian cities.
80% of the population is of African descent and their religious rituals and fervour is akin to an African Rome. Unique to Bahia, and open to all, the animist Candomblé faith is an example of a successful religious mix.
