SynchretismoFestival of St. Lazarus, Candomble Groups, Salvador, BahiaIt was 1976 and I was recording the soundscapes of Bahia, the place where African slaves had been first brought to Brazil. They took with them their way of life, including music, art and religious practices which have become an integral part of Brazilian culture. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.This recording was made on the island of Itaparica, off the coast of Salvador, Bahia. It was during the Festival of St Lazarus. In the background you can hear the sounds of a mass at a church played over a loudspeaker. In the foreground, it’s the sound of candomble groups outside the church. They’ve blended Christian saints with their own pantheon of gods, performing religious rituals of African origin alongside Catholic ceremonies. In Portuguese, they call this practice synchretismo.The sounds of synchretismo in Bahia, Brazil. Please visit our website, pulseplanet.com for some exciting news; that’s pulseplanet.com. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
Synchretismo
African spiritism blends with Catholic ritual on a saint's day in Salvador, Bahia, in Brazil.
Air Date:07/06/2020
Scientist:
Transcript:
SynchretismoFestival of St. Lazarus, Candomble Groups, Salvador, BahiaIt was 1976 and I was recording the soundscapes of Bahia, the place where African slaves had been first brought to Brazil. They took with them their way of life, including music, art and religious practices which have become an integral part of Brazilian culture. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.This recording was made on the island of Itaparica, off the coast of Salvador, Bahia. It was during the Festival of St Lazarus. In the background you can hear the sounds of a mass at a church played over a loudspeaker. In the foreground, it's the sound of candomble groups outside the church. They've blended Christian saints with their own pantheon of gods, performing religious rituals of African origin alongside Catholic ceremonies. In Portuguese, they call this practice synchretismo.The sounds of synchretismo in Bahia, Brazil. Please visit our website, pulseplanet.com for some exciting news; that's pulseplanet.com. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.