about batalá washington dc
Batalá Washington’s mission is to empower women and spread the joy of Brazil’s dynamic Afro Bahian culture and Samba Reggae music through our drumming. The women of Batalá play this music on four types of drums, creating a powerful, dynamic sound that has captivated audiences in the DC area. The music, combined with Batalá’s colorful costumes and energetic dancing, create a visual and auditory experience that few forget. We are an all volunteer band. There are currently over 80 women in the DC group! As an all volunteer organization, the women of Batalá Washington serve in various leadership roles.
Each year, Batalá bands from around the globe join together to learn new musical pieces, exchange knowledge and celebrate! Batalá Washington sponsors scholarships for its members to travel to Brazil for culturally significant events such as Lavagem do Bonfim or Brazilian Carnaval.
These scholarships provide members with an opportunity to discover and appreciate the Bahian culture in all its forms- music, dance, gastronomy, painting, and crafts.
The instruments and clothing are all manufactured in Salvador, Bahia, where the band has a social program that gives jobs to many local families. New costumes and drums are purchased and brought over from Brazil at no cost to our members.
Batalá Washington hosts an annual event, Be a Drummer for a Day, where members of the public have an opportunity to play with the band. This is a charity event with funds going to support a local cause. This is just one of many community events that Batalá supports throughout the year.
history
Batalá Washington is part of an expansive global project of Afro-Brazilian percussion bands, rooted in the samba-reggae rhythm from Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. The project originated with the founding of Batalá in Paris in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves, a musician born and raised in Salvador. Giba was living in Paris when he first had the idea for the band. Batalá quickly resonated with audiences and musicians alike, spreading to various cities worldwide and has now become Batalá Mundo, a worldwide project sharing Afro-Brazilian percussion, specifically samba-reggae.
Batalá Mundo is not just a musical project but also fosters community engagement, promoting inclusivity and joining together to enrich members lives and communities including giving back to the original community in Brazil. The instruments and clothing are all manufactured in Salvador, Bahia, where the band has a social program that gives jobs to many families.
music
Select a card to learn more about our instruments and scroll down to listen to some of our music.
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