Black Magic Festival

On the big city circuit, Sambambaia is renowned as a cultural hub, where inventiveness and artistic entrepreneurship grow as quickly as the population. 

With the goal of strengthening communication between artists, their audience, and the local community, the Black Magic project brought different art forms together in one place over three consecutive days.

Coupled with cross-cutting policy actions to promote racial equality and tackle homophobia, sexism, and animal cruelty, the festival made use of theater, dance, fashion, cuisine, literature, music, and the spoken word to highlight what Black Magic is really about …

… its beauty, richness, intelligence, and characters have dominated political, social, and cultural history. And that impact is still felt today.

The Festival was designed to be a free cultural event that would protect and promote Black popular culture in its many forms and, in doing so, help to educate people and tackle prejudice. 

The Festival was a tribute to Black culture's big names and artistic role models. This was reflected in the overall feel of the event and throughout the venue and festival program. 

As a bit of fun and a way of helping attendees find each attraction on the program, all the rooms, halls, and spaces at the Samambaia Cultural Complex were renamed for the Black Magic Festival. 

Tributes were paid to local, national, and international figures, such as Professor Nelson Inocêncio, the poet Sérgio Vaz, the Candomblé priestess Mãe Meninha do Gantois, the singer-songwriter Jovelina Pérola Negra, and the actors Milton Gonçalves, Grande Otelo, Zózimo Bulbul, and Lupita Nyongo.

 There were 14 attractions on the program every day.

Some of the attractions at the event included the samba group Filhos de Dona Maria, the frevo singer Martinha do Coco, the rap groups Slam Q’Brada and Coletivo Escalen, the Mambembrincantes theater company, the Afoxé Ogum Pá group, and the writer Cristiane Sobral.

Also appearing were Professor Nelson Inocêncio, Suene Karim, the Roda de Samba do Milsinho, Seu Estrelo e o Fuá de Terreiro, Rêgo Junior, Marta Carvalho, and Cid Aroeira with the Samba Rural da Bahia.

Various teachers led workshops in percussion, Afro dance, Rap, Capoeira (the dance-like martial art form), and the circular folk dance Cacuriá.

The roundtable discussions covered topics such as the appreciation of Black esthetics, cultural appropriation, Black people and the job market, and prejudice, colorism, and Black homosexuality.

The Black Magic Festival also featured ad-lib theater, film screenings, soirées, storytelling, a photography exhibition, and an ethnic fair.