Bahia
Why go?
Bahia borders the states of Minas Gerais in the south and Recife to
the north. It’s as large as France and geographically varied
- ranging from the fertile Atlantic rainforest strip along the
coast to the drier dustier interior as you travel west. It
encompasses Brazil’s historic city of Salvador (increasingly
described as “party central”), as well as some of the
best beach locations in the whole of South America. Bahia is often
said to be Brazil’s favourite state; enjoying its
almost-all-year-round sunshine and experiencing its distinctive
culture, it’s easy to see why.
Bahia first began its ascendancy in the 16th century, when
Portuguese colonists began to develop the sugar trade. The wealth
this created was largely fuelled by slave labour brought over from
Africa. The effect has been profound: today its ethnic fabric is
largely black (80% Afro-Brazailian descent) and this African
infusion has sculpted Bahia's religion, food and especially its
blend of music. It's not surprising some of the Brazil’s
greatest singers (including Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Gal
Costa) have emerged from Bahia. Walking through the streets of
Salvador it’s hard to avoid troupes of percussion bands and
capoeira dancers. The throb of drums could be the heartbeat
of Brazil itself.