Over 90% of the locals in Bahia trace their roots back to Africa via migration during the slave trade. In the 400+ years since Africans were first brought to the region, Bahia has become home to a vibrant and dynamic hybridized Diaspora culture. From Capoeira, to Candomble, the fusion of indigenous and African practices color the streets of Salvador.
This past year, I received a fellowship from the Yale Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity and Transnational Migration to travel to Brazil and conduct research on how Afrodiasporic youth are "art"iculating new identities, on- and offline. Informed by that journey, this trip is curated to be an immersion into the artistic and spiritual landscapes of Brazil's Afrodiasporic community.
What sets this trip apart is its personalized approach to cultural immersion - each day will be spent with the most culturally engaged and connected locals. Designed to capture the true vibrance of contemporary Brazilian culture, the goal of this journey is to manifest #digitaldiaspora.
After booking, I will send a more detailed itinerary alongside a pre-trip "culture syllabus" featuring films, music, images, online profiles, and short readings that serve as a comprehensive background to the experience. The intent is to arm you with resources to better understand the local Afrodiasporic culture prior to departure to maximize your understanding upon arriving in Brazil.
Two sets of dates are available - one in March, and one in June.
The first days in Rio will be spent exploring the City of God's natural wonders - Pao de Acucar, and The Christ the Redeemer Statue which overlooks the hundreds of little islands that decorate the bay.