 I don't know why I feel super excited. I mean, even though I'm in Brazil, but I'm super excited for this trip. I mean, the journey that I'm about to embark on right now going to Salvador, the blackest city out of Africa, and listen, I don't know what to tell you, man. Ha, ha, ha. I'm more than excited. I'm so excited. I'm so excited, man. I can't wait to hug my fellow brothers and sisters, allow them to feel the warmth from Africa. I'm bringing the warmth from Africa directly to them. It's great to meet you. I'm excited, man. I don't know, I've used the word excited so many times because I'm super excited. Yeah. Just going to grab my tickets. And in two hours later, I'll be in Salvador. Two hours flight. Traveling in Brazil feels like you're traveling within a continent because the country is so huge. Because for us, flying to Salvador is going to take us two hours, 15 minutes. So yeah, preparing to take off. Close your eyes and let's pray. Just a Maya. Y ropa de marca que también. Tu vas a ir a ir a ir ya. Yes. I really want to know what makes Salvador so unique. It's the vibration, the energy, these places. We cannot explain. Even myself, I'm a local of course, I miss this place when I keep far for a period like the energy. When I come back and I come exactly to this place, Pelorinho, I can breathe. I can feel my energy recharging. So firstly it's about the energy, the vibration from Salvador, also the colors, the music that you see everywhere, like now you can maybe listen to the song. The beach, the culture here is very, very intense. Everywhere you go you see elements from different aspects like cuisine, dance, capoeira, music. So the arts here is very easy to see and to keep connected. So Salvador for me is unique, I don't want to leave my city never. Welcome to the blackest city out of Africa, the African city of Brazil, the city that millions of slaves that were taken out of Africa were brought to, the city that 80% of its population are of African descent. Have you heard of the new world? This was once the new world, welcome to Salvador Bahia, the first capital of Brazil. I'm happy to be here. Everything is cool. Salvador Bahia, a very beautiful coastal city in the northeastern part of Brazil, situated on a peninsula. Salvador Bahia got a lot of nicknames but my favorite one is the city of happiness. You cannot tell me that with all the beautiful women that you see in this city you're going to be sad. You cannot tell me that with the rhythm, the sounds, the vibration from this beautiful city will make you a sad person. I'm really having a time of my life in this beautiful city but after being here, first impression, I feel like Salvador Bahia is a city full of contrast. One thing that I would say first impression after being here for the past five days, is the city of contrast. Exactly. The city where when you see rich people, you see that the place is super rich with skyscrapers and when people live so big in there, then when you drive 30 minutes away from it, the rest is fabulous. Yes, you go back to the game style. And also one of the things that I've seen, it's more like, have you eaten a chocolate cake before? Yes. So a chocolate cake with a vanilla ice cream on it. Yes. You are not very fond of sweets but I think I do. No, but you've seen it right? Yes. So the chocolate is like, you know that the chocolate is bigger, the chocolate cake is bigger. And you put the vanilla cream on it, in a small size. So this is so many black people which I'm describing them as a chocolate and the colors, so it shows the diversity of the city with the, I mean, the white people that you see here, these are the sides of the cream that you see on top. And I don't know, but being here, I think the blacks are the majority, but the people that are ruling, the people that are doing everything are the white people. So... 20% ruling, 80%. How is life in general, living in Salvador Bahia as a black person? Yeah, it should be wonderful that it's the most African city outside the African continent, at least between the capitals of Brazil and all America. But it's, on the other side, it's very difficult because it's one of the most racist cities. It's a lot of prejudice here in Salvador. We don't have mayors, black mayors, and we don't have a black elite, a middle class. Most of it is white people that compose this middle class. So it's a very large struggle to make justice and equalize the opportunity for the whole society. Salvador, the Afro-Brazilian capital, with roughly 80% of its residents, routes to Africa. Why is this whole? Because this city is the first ever slave market in the New World where Africans were enslaved and brought in here to work on sugar cane plantation. I believe you all want to know when and how that has happened. In the year 1530 to 1856, the Portuguese brought about 4.8 millions of enslaved Africans from different ethnicities, from different regions of Africa. Yeah, we are in the Lower City, in the oldest part of Salvador. And it was exactly here in the colonial period, the 70th century, that we had the first most important port in Brazil. And it was by here that we received thousands. About, the total in Brazil was about 5 million Africans, enslaved people. And here, this place, we received many of these Africans. So when they arrived in Brazil, by here, northeast of Brazil, especially Hezif and Salvador was exactly here. And I've seen the floating fort. What is that used for? This fort was also built in the 60th century, between 60th and 70th century. It's one of the oldest defensive system in Brazil. And it was built exactly from this city, because Salvador's planet was starting to be built there, to protect the city of any kind of invasion, attack, do you understand? So we have the fort there, and more forts to the left, there's Baja, and more to the right, because the city was concentrated here, in the top. So Salvador was chosen to be the first capital in Brazil, also because of the strategic position. In the northeast, also having the first important fort, and also because of the position there. Because from there, it would be easy to see any kind of attack. I wish we all can close our eyes and say a prayer for our ancestors. After being here, I really feel they are pain. Because they went through a lot of inhumane treatment right from the continent to the made it to the new world. That shows how resilient our people are. Even when they made it in here, they did not just come here to eat and sleep. But the struggles still continued. If you've seen a city of this caliber, knowing that it was built by people with no machinery, it shows that our ancestors really suffered. The colonial Salvador that began to be built in 1549 was obviously very small, and was located in what is now the Pelorino neighborhood. In the 7th century, it was surrounded by a wall of stones and mud to protect it from any type of attack and treat such as the Dutch. So even today, we have a part of this stone wall preservator. So this is the unique part of the wall that we still have preservator here in Salvador. This wall was built in the 7th century to protect the city. The wall is still here? Yeah, it was still here. Oh my God! So basically this is the foundation of Brazil? Yeah, because Salvador's first capital was founded in 1549. And Brazil starts to be invaded and colonized in 1500. So 49 years after. And this is the map of Salvador, original. So you see the wall here around? So now we are about here. So this was the whole Salvador? Yeah, that now is just the Pelorino neighborhood. And of course all this you see as well was built by our sisters, Africans. I feel like they made Africans do all the hard work. Of course, all. Because to build this? Yeah, all. All the hard work, all the city, each rock, each stone that you see here from that period, the 6th century, 7th century was built by the Slavic. And also indigenous, but majority of the Africans, yeah. It's like you're putting like... This is like a matrimony. This is the in its original state. From about 1613. I just want to know like who built this place. People who were enslaved and worked hard in this area to build this region that today we know as the historic center, the Pelorino. One unique thing about Pelorino, anytime you are here is the gravel roads and you see the roads are made of stones. But apparently the roads that are made out of stones got history and it's not a good one. Can you tell me what these stones on the ground really represent? It's stones here, ruins of this place. Black, black. Because the black people as a slave are building this place. So it's part of this place. The whole place was built by black people. The black community as a slave are building this. The stones in its original form has been renovated. Yes, these stones were actually part of a process of revitalization but maintaining the structure that was built in the last century. In fact, in the centuries, since the Pelorino, the history that at least in the 15th century was built in this area. I kept on hearing the name Pelorino to the extent that I didn't even know the real pronunciation of Pelorino. But the history behind this name even made me more sad. So the name of the neighborhood Pelorino comes from the extruder that calls Pelorino. That was used to punish the enslavement in that period. So it's like a big and large piece of wood where normally they were tied there. And it was used to receive lashes. Most of them, also when there was a lot of lashes, they could die. So this is the origin of the name of the neighborhood Pelorino. First Brazilian street. So Salvador was planned to start to be built in 1549 by Tho Manso's, a Portuguese colonizer. There was a signage to build all the city. And this was considered the elite area. It's a business street, man. Yeah, it's a mixer. Now it's more business. But all this area called Pelorino originally was like the rich area of the city. After when the city started to expand to other areas, this place started to be more commercial. Turn it commercial. And many homeless people also started to invade the acute of this house that was empty, irregular, like not regular. So we also had a very strong social crisis here in this neighborhood, Pelorino, about in the 20th century. And this place was built by? It was built by the Africans, the enslaved people, but in order, designated by the general of Palmetto Sousa, that you see that is that. It's an initiative to be able to remove some families because some buildings are... Valorized. Valorized is a commercial area, but there are also families that reside in this area. But here we also have to say that these houses belonged to the rich families in the past. So you also had a process of substitution. When the part of the city was poor, these rich people moved to other places and were busy with poor people. And when it was busy with poor people, there was a reform here in Pelorino that tried to get rid of these poor people from the poor. This place, when the slave masters that had the coffee farm and all the palm plantations with the extracted the palm wine for cosmetics, they were all those ones that had those houses in Pelorino where they have the slave masters colony. Do you understand? It's kind of like instead of being a castle, it's like a community. So that's where they have the George McLean and all them. Do you understand? In Portuguese left. So when things started changing, the abolition of the slave and business, they moved from that Pelorino where you guys ate yesterday at lunch to come to this place. So this is one of the most expressive pieces of land in the whole Bahia. Do you know that some of the enslaved Africans in Brazil returned back to Africa? As of why they returned, I had no idea. But based on my research, some bought their freedom and went back to the motherland. But also many believe that during one of the biggest revolts in the history of Bahia, where they attempt to be called the revolts of the Males, which is Muslims. On January 25th, 1835, over 600 slaves mobilized themselves in search of their freedom. So that caused the biggest revolts in the history of Bahia. And at the end of the day, some were caught, they were flogged, some were also executed and majority of them were deported back to the continent. Hence the name, the Tabor people of Ghana. So if you've ever heard about Jamestown, yes. Jamestown in Accra. I'm currently at Jamestown, popularly known as British Accra. Jamestown, British Accra. And the house behind me is the house that is called Brazilian House. The reason why this place is called Brazilian House, the Ganeers now were taken from Ghana to Brazil. They had the Senate come back home in 1836 and when they came, this is the area where they sat in a leaf. So when you look outside the street, it's called Brazilian Lane. So all the houses on the street were built by the Afro-Brazilians who returned from Brazil. And they later became a businessman. They saw all their houses and went back to Brazil. But one of them, one of the leaders who led the 200 delegation from Brazil to Ghana is called Mama Nassiu. He married from the local royalty from Ottubro-Hum and he had one daughter with the Queen Mother's daughter. So we have to leave the property for his descendants and I'm one of the descendants of the Brazil House. What came about with the name Tabor people? Okay, when they returned in 1836, you know, they cannot speak the English, they only speak Portuguese. So because they are businessmen and they are selling a lot of things, when the local people, some of the Ghana people came and buy something, they greet them. Tabor means it's good in Portuguese language. It's good, it's good. So the people in the local area refer them as the people who speak Tabor language. So that's why they call them Tabor people. Today, as I'm talking to you now, Tabor people, our Tabor community is a very big community in Ghana. For example, the first female Chief Justice in Ghana was born here. She's also a Tabor. There were a lot of people passing through here, as long as there were all Tabor people. Where we are now, we are at the Jamestown Port, the port that was built by King James in 1646. This is a port where the Afro-Brazilians arrived in 1836. It has become now a local fishing port. So when they returned, they came with a couple of West Africans. For example, Togo, Nigeria, Beni, they are on one ship. When they arrived, others also went back to Togo. When the ship left Ghana, it went to Togo. Beni, then Nigeria. They are all the descendants of the Britannians from Brazil. You cannot be insured up by here without feeling like you are in Africa. Which means that they left Africa, but Africa never left them. I know that Brazilians are super big on beach football, but the fact that the people playing football looks like me, I mean, if we should take this beach to somewhere in Sierra Leone, you would definitely think that these are all Africans. This is crazy, man. So I'm exploring Salvador Bahia, and I just met an Afro-Colombian. Wow. Mario. And Senegalese? Yes, Senegalese. So, as black people, found yourself in Salvador Bahia, how does that feel? I mean, for me, Salvador is like, if you're black and you're going to South America, if you're not going to Catalina, you need to go to Bahia. You need to go to Bahia. It's Salvador is a must. Why do you say so? It's the heart of Africa culture in the country, and to an extent in the South Americans. For me, it's been interesting because like, there is so much spirit from South West Africa in here. Also, everything is so mixed and different. When you're used to being in Banjul or being in Dakar on the street, and you almost like, see the tribes and you know, and you look at people's faces and you're like, you recognize some elements, but then everything is just so much blown. It's incredible. He never told me that we're coming to a black city. Indeed, Salvador Bahia is the Africa out of Africa because the way of life in this city, it's similar to the way of life in different countries in Africa. And me being here, that was really exciting to see. Paulo, what happened in here? So we are in the heart of Salvador, the heart of Brazil actually, Pelorinho, right? So the historical center of Salvador, is pretty much a UNESCO Heritage Site. The first settlement of the Portuguese here in Brazil, but also it has a very sad story because the Africans were beaten here, but then nowadays we made another, we gave another meaning for this place, which means freedom, means celebration of our culture, means connect our roots with our roots. So Pelorinho is now a very authentic place. Wow. Particularly in this area here, this square is well known worldwide because Michael Jackson used to play here. Actually, he played a video clip called They Don't Care About Us. It was in this particular place, that's the window there. He was there, you see? So Michael Jackson was pretty much doing a big favor to Brazil, to Bahia, to promote Holodum, which is our most iconic music group, to the world. And then this place here, during the 90s, became very vibrant. And nowadays it's like the heart of Brazil. So everyone, I mean, what I love about this place is that it's so Afrocentric, you know? Yes. The Afro vibe here is really thick, man. I don't know if you guys can see the people around here. They look like Ganiens. They look like, you know, West African, nice. So beautiful, man. Mama, you've been to Ghana? No, not Ghana. You from Brazil? Wow! You look like my mom from Ghana. Okay. Look at that. You've been to Africa? Never. No, maybe. Never? Never. Wow. I love your outfit. It's so beautiful. Oh, thank you. Yeah, nice. You from Ghana? Yeah, I'm from Ghana. This is, this is crazy. Like, I saw her, I'm like, that's my, my mom, that's my auntie from Ghana. And she's like, no, I'm from Brazil, man. He follows me on YouTube. Wow. Good evening. It's been a long time. Well, because I love Ghana. Wow. And so there's a lot of YouTubers that are doing content in Ghana. Hmm. Some folks from the UK, I think, but they've been there. Yeah. And they've also got with the kids. And you. And so I love it. You know, I spent, I spent three months at the Chess University. Chess University? Yeah, so Ghana's been close to my heart. Hmm. Nice to see you. Nice to see you too, man. And I guess you love coming to Salvador. Yeah, I live here now. You live here? What, what, why, why Salvador? Because I wanted to be around black folks. I wanted to be by the ocean. I wanted to be in a warm climate. And I love it here. So I was in Rio. Didn't really like it as much. So I came here. Woo! Do you feel at home here, though? I do feel at home. Cultural differences, you know, they're significant, but folks are very nice and welcoming. And we'll work it out. We'll make it work. Patricia, do you live in Ghana for three months? I was in Ghana for three months. Is there any similarities between Ghana and Salvador? Just that I feel like I don't stand out. You know, in the streets, I can walk and nobody will know that I'm not from there until I say something. The minute I say something, then they know I'm not from there. But, you know, I feel like brotherhood, you know, like a connection. And I don't feel a lot of other places. And it's not all about the connection with the people, but the connection with the food. This is... Oh, wow! It seems... This is Akaraje. Akaraje is from Marigane. Her name is Mary Jane. Yes, Mary Jane. Oh, wow! And you make Akaraje. Yes. Mary Jane makes Akaraje. Yeah. Yeah! Akaraje, Mary Jane. Hello, Tutubang! What is this called? This one is called what? It's Abara. Abara. It's the... You know, it looks like... This is a meal from Nigeria. Yeah. It's called Momwain. Momwain. It's made in Nigeria. Is it made with beans? Yes. Sorry. Made with beans? It's made with beans. Oh! If you ever get a chance to visit Salvador Bahia and you make it to Pelorini... Pelorini. Please, make sure you buy Akaraje from Mary Jane. Oh, wow! This is called gari. Or yucca... yucca fall. In Ghana, we call it gari. In Nigeria, it's called gari. No, it's not gari. No, let me... It's from yucca? One minute. Let me taste. I want to be sure. This is Africa, man! This is a Christian city with Afro-Indigenous religion. And in here, they call it Kandomble. It was exciting to see Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana religion present in here. What I read before coming in here is the most popular African spirituality religion that is found in Salvador Bahia. Yes. It's Kandomble. Yes. I really want to know more about Kandomble. What is Kandomble all about? Oh, thanks for the question. My name is Caetano Portugal. I'm Elgan. From this temple, it's a temple of Kandomble. Kandomble is an African-Brazilian religion, African-inspired religion brought by people from Africa that were brought by Europeans, enslaved. And it functions with some elements. Number one, divination. Number two, offerings for the god and goddess that we call Vodun. And we have dance, we have play, play of drums. Drums, sir. And we sing, and we eat. It's a religion full of joy. And it's a kind of encapsulated African culture in the Brazilian territory. Okay, divine all of this. And what is it used for? For Ogueni issue, that's the gods. Wow. I feel like Brazilians are so big. The Afro-Brazilians are so big in African spirituality. Very, very, very. Come closer. And what is the celebration of Beji? No. No. For protection. For protection. For protection. For sacrifice. Ogun is from Nigeria. Ogun is from Nigeria, from Yoruba. Are you Yoruba? Are you Yoruba? No. Are you? Are you down? I'm from Brazil. He's from Brazil. What part? He's from Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo, he's from Sao Paulo. But you believe in the African spirituality? You believe in the religion of Africans, spiritually. Okay. What are you doing? I asked her, what is she doing? What is her doing? I'm asking for protection. Okay. She's asking for offering, like help donate to support the twins festival. Because every September is the twins in Tafu. Ghana, we call it in Tafu. Here in Nigeria, we call it Beji's. They have twin festival here. Exactly. We have twin festival in a crap. In Ghana. In Ghana, Africa, 10, celebration of the Beji's. It's the Homo Haup festival. Homo is a twin festival. Yes, so Homo Haup, The day for Homoho is like a day or two days, or a week before Homoho, the celebrity twin festival. And do people wear whites for the festival? So that is what she's asking for support to do the twins festival. That is the, we call it Beji, that is the Yoruba way, Ya Beji, twins moda, Mam Yata. There are all those kind of names, so it makes sense, right? That's interesting. I mean, when is the festival? The festival is the whole September. The whole of September? Yes. And I cannot come to a co-star city without checking out the beach. And finding out that the local beach in here is called Sautome. It's just like a country in Africa. It was the happiest day of my life because it's time to eat food. That's the wife of a Jamaican man. I'm messing myself in the Atlantic Ocean at the other side of the world. This is Sautome. I mean, I'm not talking about the Sautome in Africa. I'm talking about Sautome in Brazil. This whole area is called Sautome Principle. It's found along the coastline in Salvador, the blackest city out of Africa. I mean, the African city within Brazil. Usually everyone around me is black. Everyone around me looks like me. Everyone around me looks black. Everyone around me looks black.