Gilberto Gil: Salvador City Councillor - Part 2
The musician had planned to stand as mayor of the Bahian capital but was instead elected city councilor, and the story of his political career became part of local legend.
By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Text: Ceci Alves, filmmaker and journalist
Showmício de Gilberto Gil para sua campanha de vereador de Salvador (1988-09-16)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The Councilor With the Most Votes
The remarkable story of this confrontation between future "ministrartista" (artist-turned-minister) Gil and the doyen of Bahian politics, Waldir Pires, with his widely reported vetoing of Gil's candidacy, fills some of the most colorful pages in the history of Bahian politics. However, the former governor—who died in 2018—always denied it.
Campanha de Gilberto Gil para vereador de Salvador (1988-09-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In 1988, Waldir gave Gilberto Gil his backing for councillor, and his would be one of the 11,111 votes that put Gil on Salvador's City Council (Câmara Municipal). Gil was the candidate with the most votes at that election.
Showmício de Gilberto Gil para sua campanha de vereador de Salvador (1988-09-16)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gil took office as councillor in January 1989 for what would be a controversial time in office, partly on account of his dress code and for advocating for issues like Afro-Brazilian culture and strengthening the environmental agenda.
Once again, he caused a furore when he turned up at the City Council wearing a shocking pink suit and floral shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. And there was anger that he was an infrequent visitor to the City Council, overloaded as he was with his shows, and other artistic and political commitments
Gilberto Gil em cerimônia de posse como vereador em Salvador Foto 3 (1989)Instituto Gilberto Gil
A City Council survey showed that Gilberto Gil was absent from 63% of the plenary sessions. Even so, Gil did make some significant interventions during his time in office, as president of the Commission to Protect the Environment (Comissão de Defesa do Meio Ambiente), a body he set up at the City Council.
O então vereador Gilberto Gil com o amigo Waly Salomão (1990)Instituto Gilberto Gil
He was able to bring together the advisory boards from the Virgin Forest Foundation (Fundação Mata Virgem) and the Brazilian Wetlands Alert Foundation (Fundação Alerta Brasil Pantanal), and presided over the Black and Mixed-Race Reference Center (Cerne), which he had set up with the anthropologist Antonio Risério.
Caetano Veloso no showmício da campanha de Gilberto Gil para vereador de Salvador (1988-09-16)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Another milestone from his time in office was setting up the environmental organization OndAzul to protect Brazil's rivers and seas.
Gilberto Gil e Carlos Minc em campanha da Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
Gil and the organization fought both locally and federally to get the project's proposals discussed and introduced, and he became known as a pioneer in advocating to protect the environment, rivers, and seas.
Gilberto Gil e Alfredo Sirkis durante evento da Fundação OndAzul (1990)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil and Alfredo Sirkis founded the OndAzul Foundation for the environment.
Evento da ONG OndAzul (fundada por Gilberto Gil e Alfredo Sirkis) em Duque de CaxiasInstituto Gilberto Gil
The Foundation sponsored campaigns all around Brazil.
Evento da ONG OndAzul (fundada por Gilberto Gil e Alfredo Sirkis) em Duque de CaxiasInstituto Gilberto Gil
Campanha de conscientização da Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
The campaigns were supported by names like Fernando Gabeira and Carlos Minc.
Campanha de conscientização da Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
Other than activists, Gabeira e Minc were politicians for many years.
Gilberto Gil e Carlos Minc em campanha da Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil e Alfredo Sirkis em visita ao Centro Cultural de Vigário GeralInstituto Gilberto Gil
In their visits, they learned and taught about caring for the environment.
Abaixo assinado da Fundação OndAzul com a assinatura de Gilberto Gil Página 1Instituto Gilberto Gil
Several petitions were sent to government leaders.
A atriz Betty Faria em campanha para a Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
Artists like the actress Betty Faria always supported the Foundation.
Maitê Proença em apoio à Fundação OndAzulInstituto Gilberto Gil
The actress Maitê Proença also joined the campaigns.
Marcelo Faria em ensaio fotográfico para a ONG OndAzul, fundada por Gilberto Gil e Alfredo SirkisInstituto Gilberto Gil
The actor Marcelo Faria also called for the preservation of the environment.
Research and text: Ceci Alves
Assembly: Chris Fuscaldo and Isabela Marinho
General credits
Editing and curating: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM Edições
Musical content research: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi and Ricardo Schott
MinC content research: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves and Chris Fuscaldo
Photo subtitles: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Fernanda Pimentel, Gilberto Porcidonio, Kamille Viola, Laura Zandonadi, Lucas Vieira, Luciana Azevedo, Patrícia Sá Rêgo, Pedro Felitte, Ricardo Schott, Roni Filgueiras and Tito Guedes
Data editing: Isabela Marinho and Marco Konopacki
Acknowledgments: Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani
Review for Gege Produções: Cristina Doria
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audios and videos and correctly count the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please contact us by email atendimentogil@gege.com.br
