Terca-feira gorda

Ilê Aiyê featuring Gilberto Gil, Canto Negro: Que Bloco É Esse?

In honor of Carnaval, I'm throwing up a track by Bahia's Ilê Aiyê, the original afro-bloc from Liberdade, a neighborhood in Salvador, the capitol of the state Bahia. Ilê Aiyê was created 30 years ago to combat racism and spread awareness about various social causes through their music. Each year, the bloc chooses a theme and subsequently commissions pieces for their Carnival performances.

The group is more than a band in the city of Salvador; it is a veritable institution. With a cultural institution and educational program to its name, Ilê Aiyê is an important and significant part of the Bahian cultural landscape, and as a result count Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Carlinhos Brown and other notable Bahians as friends to the institution.

This track, Que Bloco E Esse?, is a classic in the Ilê Aiyê repetoire. The title translates to "What bloc is this?" and is a nod to the black empowerment movement of the 1970's. Gilberto Gil leads on vocals on this rendition, and a version of the song (alternately titled "Ilê Aiyê") appears on his Refavela album.