Bahia of All the Saints

Jana Bokova explores the multi-cultural mix of Brazil's Bahia de Todos Santos, once its major slave port and now a vibrant musical centre

Director
Jana Bokova

This 1994 film is a documentary profile of the culture and music of one of Brazil's most characteristic, and interesting, cities: Salvador, state capital of Bahia.

Salvador was the first major port and, for two hundred years, the capital of colonial Brazil. Dramatically situated between green tropical hills and broad beaches along the bay of Todos os Santos, from 1500 to 1815 was a golden age for the town, with countless magnificent homes and churches, many now preserved. Its cultural heritage is strong too, and continues to thrive today. There's a strong African influence, from its spicy cuisine to the vibrant musical scene, and its lavish carnivals.

This film reveals some of the colours and sounds of the place, with the help of musicians such as Gilberto Gil.