How blessed am I; that the first city we visit is Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. In the previous post I addressed, somewhat, why Brazil. I felt attracted to Brazil some years ago following some research I had done on the breaking period. Having been so engaged and enthralled with the trans-Atlantic slave trade I was intellectually situated in Brazil in a way that compelled me to just sit my feet on the soil. I felt an ancestral calling … and then the door opened.
So, I’m here … and I love it! So much so, I’m kinda loving the federal government, and hoping to find funding opportunities to return to do some research. We arrived Saturday, July 2nd on Brazilian social, Rio de Janeiro. Stayed just enough time to transfer to another plane, how about after traveling 14 hours. Can you say exhausted, but just image this view … of the rolling ocean right outside my hotel entrance – wipes all the tired away.
Anyway, Salvador is the second largest city in Brazil and the majority of citizens who populate the city are Afro-Brazil. Actually, Brazil has more people of African descent, second only to Nigeria. The hotel room sits on the ocean, an exceptional view. We’ve been here since Friday. Our day starts typically starts with a morning workshop and then some community based learning. Some of the topics have included: African traditional religious, the formation of the Baiana Society – Racial Constitution, political and economic history of Salvador, environmental education in Salvador and finally one of the best presentations, remembering slavery. OMG, this was my favorite, followed by the traditional African religions. The highlight of the remembering slavery workshop was our visit to the center of the city – the peeling post. A place where enslaved Africans were beaten until their skin peeled. I’ll post pictures, but it was an abandoned place that was revalorized with small businesses. It is a heart felt place.
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