The presentation will take place at Concha Acústica, on November 1st

On November 1st, Ilê Aiyê celebrates 50 years of existence. To celebrate the group born in 1974, a special show will be held at the Concha Acústica of Teatro Castro Alves (TCA).

The guests are: Daniela Mercury, BaianaSystem, Orquestra Afrosinfônica, Aloísio Menezes, Beto Jamaica, Matilde Charles and Amanda Maria.

For the entity’s president, Antônio Carlos Vovô, the show will be a remarkable moment not only for honoring the first Afro bloc in Brazil that emerged with the aim of combating racism through Carnival, but also the people who made this purpose possible. In addition to the artists, Vovô highlights the role of Apolônio de Jesus Filho, Popó do Ilê, who was at his side in founding the block, and Mãe Hilda, who provided the premises of the Ilê Axé Jitolu terreiro for the organization of the group.

“It will be a very special moment, because 50 years are not 50 days. We started as a group of people without resources, and being able to win and impact Salvador, Brazil and the world is very important. Just like making people’s behavior change, accepting their blackness, encouraging the emergence of other blocks and other organizations that move the city, the culture, the economy, is something that I have a lot to thank these people that you don’t see , but what makes the Ilê you see”, recognizes Grandpa.

Singer Daniela Mercury has a relationship with Ilê Aiyê, which represents one of the most beautiful chapters of Bahian music. This union symbolizes a deep connection between one of Brazil’s greatest artists and one of the most important Afro groups in the world. This year, the singer dedicated an entire show at the Salvador Summer Festival to the 50th anniversary of Pérola Negra do Curuzu and promises to continue this tribute on the main stage of Concha Acústica.

Another pair of guests that also guarantees the diversity of rhythms of the celebration is the band BaianaSystem and the Orquestra Afrosinfônica da Bahia. With a unique sound, which mixes axé, reggae, rap and electronics, Baiana has become one of the main names in Brazilian music and, like Ilê, carries black identity and the fight for social justice as themes in her songs. In turn, the Orchestra is an innovative project that explores the sound of traditional African instruments, such as drums and berimbaus, along with the harmony and complexity of symphonic orchestras.

The show will also be marked by the contagious energy of Beto Jamaica, from É O Tchan!, and Aloísio Menezes, voice who has led Bloco Cortejo Afro for 26 years. These two legends of Bahian music, with their trajectories marked by the fight for equality and the celebration of black culture, promise to take the public on a true musical journey alongside the night’s host.

To attract the crowd, singers Matilde Charles and Amanda Maria complete the party. While Matilde cultivates a long history of friendship and singing with Ilê, Amanda was a finalist on The Voice 2023 and one of the attractions of the 43rd Noite da Beleza Negra, which took place in January this year and marked the beginning of the celebrations of half a century of history of the block.

Location: Concha Acústica do TCA

Date: November 1, 2024