BACKGROUND
Ilê Axé Jitolu is the name of a Candomblé lounge of Gege-Nagô origin headed by Mãe (mother) Hilda dos Santos, who has lived in the neighbourhood of Curuzu-Liberdade since 1938.
It was in this sacred space that IIlê Ayê was established in 1974; nevertheless its profane origin, Ilê Aiyê inherited the principles and basis of Candomblé, as well as a social understanding toward social acquaintance, the respect towards the elders and benefits one can get from the symbols of the songs, tunas, accessories and costumes, without disrespecting religious principles.
As a black community association, Ilê Aiyê has established itself as one of the most distinguished agents in recovering the self-esteem and the self-consciousness of the black community in the city capital of Bahia, by strengthening Brazilian culture by keeping and propagating Afro-Brazilian roots.
Additionally, Ilê Aiyê performs intense social work by maintaining two schools oriented to low-income children in Curuzu: Mãe Hilda and Banda Erê Schools.
Differently from other carnival parade units from Bahia which promote open sales of its costumes for anyone who wish buy them, during Carnival Ilê aios at emphasizing the role of black people in the national development and at raising funds to maintain its social projects, once its associates are from the most deprived social classes of Salvador.
ILÊ AIYÊ IN CARNIVAL
This rhythmic movement, created by Ilê through Band'Aiyê, was responsible for the Bahia Carnival revolution. With 120 musicians, Band'Aiyê has had came participation in CD albums of such world-renowned performers as Björk (Iceland); Yerba Buena (Cuba/USA); Nass Marraketh (Morocco); Daniela Mercury (Brazil); Arto Lindsay (USA).
Percussion and African-rooted dance are the main characteristics of Ilê Aiyê, whose smoothness and plasticity, in Carnival, add glitziness to the parade.
With its 3,000 members, Ilê is nowadays a true Bahian cultural asset and a landmark in the process of reafricanization of the Bahia Carnival.
GRANDPA ANTÔNIO CARLOS DOS SANTOS PRESIDENT
Founder of Ilê Aiyê, Grandpa Antônio Carlos dos Santos has dedicated his life to carnival, artistic, cultural, social and educative activities promoted by the association for the past three decades. Deemed as one of the most distinguished leaders in the Americas, he is well known in all continents due to his work towards the black community.
DISCOGRAPHY
1984 – I Canto Negro – Label: Poligram
1989 – II Canto Negro – Label: Eldorado
1996 – III Canto Negro – Label: Velas
1998 – IV Canto Negro – Label: Sony/Natasha
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES
1983/1984 – Angola
1986 – Benin
1991 – Martinique
1992 – USA (Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Oakland)
1994 – Europe tour (Denmark, Germany)
1995 – USA (Miami)
1998 – USA (Spoleto Festival – Charleston)
1999 – USA (Miami, New York, Washington)
1999 – Portugal
2000 – USA (Jazz Festival – New Orleans)
2000 – France (Percpan – Paris)
2000 – Europe tour (Germany, France, Spain, Holland, England, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium)
2001 – Europe tour (Italy, France)
2002 – USA tour (New York, Washington)
2003 – USA (San Francisco)
2004 – USA tour (Carnival Caribe – New York, Brazilian Day – Philadelphia)
2004 – Spain (Forum Universal de las Culturas de Barcelona)
2005 – Europe tour
