Rui attends Olodum's departure from Pelourinho.
One of the highlights of Salvador's Carnival, the traditional departure of the Afro-Brazilian bloco Olodum once again attracted the attention of locals and tourists alike. Governor Rui Costa participated in the beginning of the parade, which departed from the Olodum School on Rua das Laranjeiras, in Pelourinho. "Olodum is one of the cornerstones of our Carnival, it has contagious musicality and energy. It makes you want to dance and it's connected to our ancestry. Ilê Aiyê and other cultural expressions are one of the great forces of our Carnival," said the governor.
Bahia 247 - One of the highlights of Salvador's Carnival, the traditional departure of the Olodum Afro bloc once again attracted the attention of locals and tourists this Friday (13). Governor Rui Costa participated in the start of the parade, which departed from the Olodum School, on Rua das Laranjeiras, in Pelourinho. The Afro bloc is one of the 93 entities supported through the Carnaval Ouro Negro project of the State Government.
“Olodum is one of the cornerstones of our Carnival, [it has] contagious musicality and energy. It makes you want to dance and [that] has to do with our ancestry. Ilê Aiyê, which parades tomorrow [Saturday, the 14th], and other manifestations are one of the great forces of our Carnival,” said Rui Costa.
The governor toured the Batatinha Circuit, stopping in front of the Olodum headquarters on Rua Gregório de Matos. Then, the four thousand members, including dance groups, percussionists and revelers, paraded on the Campo Grande circuit. The bloco also paraded on the Barra/Ondina circuit on Sunday (15), and once again on Campo Grande, on Carnival Tuesday.
This year, Olodum celebrates 35 years of revelry with the theme 'Ethiopia, The Cross of Lalibela, The Promise Keeper'. The ambassador of the African country, Sinknesh Eijgu, is among the group's guests.
Center for identity cultures
Still in Salvador's Historic Center, Rui Costa visited Casa XII, in Largo do Pelourinho, where the headquarters of the Center for Popular Identity Cultures (CCPI) is located. During the Pelourinho Carnival, the space, coordinated by the State Secretariat of Culture (Secult), functions as a VIP area and information center, with a press room.
According to the governor, who earlier participated in the departure of Olodum, the Carnival, the Afro blocks, the Afoxés, and the Pelourinho should be reaffirmed. "This is already the Carnival of culture, but I want to expand the incentives throughout the year, creating a positive impact in neighborhoods and communities. We will have a meeting in March to discuss this policy."
This Friday, the show that marks the beginning of the main stage program at the Pelourinho Carnival will feature singer Mariene de Castro, who will be joined by Margareth Menezes, Mariela Santiago, Virgínia Rodrigues, Will Carvalho, Carol Soares, and Manuela Rodrigues. The performance will pay tribute to Dona Edith do Prato, an icon of Bahia's samba de roda.