Blocos Afro da Bahia
Blocos Afro are neighborhood based communities in Bahia that encourage cultural activities that are rooted in political and social programming, encouraging race consciousness which is mostly exemplified via music and dance. They bring together music, dance, race, religion, and language as an expression of resistance to combat racism. Blocos Afro create cultural and political projects to combat prejudice and make African history known. They also serve their community members through promoting racial awareness, self-esteem, education, and general wellness of the neighborhood. (1)
Ilê Aiyê, the first Bloco Afro community organization was founded officially on November 1st, 1974, and islocated in the Curuzu/Liberdade neighborhood which has the largest population of African descendants inSalvador, Bahia. Historians say that when Ilê Aiyê came to the streets in 1974, it was the start of theBahian Carnaval revolution-playing new rhythms from the African tradition. Historically, Carnaval groupsof Afro-Brazilian descent were not allowed to be in the Carnaval parades in Salvador until 1974. (1) Today, Ilê Aiyê remains one of the most popular and influential Afro Blocos in Salvador. (3)
On April 25, 1979, the Bloco Afro Olodum was formed. It was led by Mestre Neguinho do Samba, whowas one of the drum leaders of Ilê Aiyê. One of the important things that he did was he eliminated thetraditional hand and stick style of playing the repinique drum (such as in Samba from Rio de Janeiro).Similar to the style of the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, he incorporated two sticks in each handthat would allow drummers to play faster. This made Olodum different than Ilê Aiyê.
Timbalada was started in 1991 in the Candeal neighborhood of Salvador by Carlinhos Brown and TonyMola. It is not quite a Bloco Afro but rather a percussive Afro-Pop band with an organization that hasneighborhood cultural projects. The rhythms of Timbalada have a strongly African and Afro-Caribbeaninfluence.
Didá (Didá Educational and Cultural Association and Didá Band) is an all women Block Afro
andcultural/educational organization that was founded by Neguinho do Samba on December 13, 1993. Didáis a Yoruba word that means “power of creation”. Their mission is similar to the other Blocos Afros butwith the goal of improving the quality of life of women and children specifically. (1)
Other Blocos Afro include Malê de Balê, Os Negoes, Ara Ketu and Cortejo Afro. (1-3)