Where Health Meets History: Brazil Day 2 - January 5, 2026

Today, we experienced Salvador, Bahia—widely known as the birthplace of samba and one of Brazil’s most powerful cultural centers. This city carries a deep and complex history, rooted in the arrival of enslaved Africans who brought with them rhythm, movement, spirituality, and resilience. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that Salvador is not simply a place you visit; it is a place you feel.

Our day began with an Afro-Brazilian dance workshop led by the renowned Professor Antonio Chozido. He welcomed students from University of Kansas and the University of Colorado into a space where dance became far more than choreography. Through rhythm and motion, he showed us that culture is embodied. As students and professors moved together, following structured steps that quickly evolved into joyful expression, the room transformed! What began as a lesson became a shared experience, bonding our group in a way only music and movement can.

Through dance, we gained a deeper appreciation for Afro-Brazilian culture and its power to unite people across backgrounds. Music and movement have long served as tools of connection, resistance, and survival within Afro-Brazilian communities. As Professor Juvenal de Carvalho reminded us during our first afternoon lecture, “It is not Africa, it is AFRICAS.” This idea challenged us to understand African culture not as a single narrative, but as a rich tapestry of identities, histories, and traditions. We also learned how strategy, resistance, and spiritual expression played vital roles in cultural expansion and preservation.

University of Kansas and University of Colorado students after the afternoon lectures.

Later, during our final lecture of the day with Professor Willys Santos, we explored how African cultures profoundly shaped Brazil as we know it today. Enslaved Africans carried with them music, dance, clothing, language, food, and belief systems from many regions of Africa. Over time, these traditions blended across Brazil, interacting with Indigenous cultures and European influences to create something entirely new and enduring.

Casa Rosa, our classroom building!

One of the most impactful lessons for me was learning how enslaved Africans resisted oppression by uniting across different religions and cultural backgrounds. From this resistance emerged Candomblé—a spiritual practice that blends African religious traditions with elements of Catholicism. Candomblé represents survival, adaptation, and unity in the face of enslavement, and stands as a powerful symbol of cultural resilience.

Before today, I did not fully grasp how deeply African culture shaped Brazil, nor how collective resistance preserved identity, spirituality, and community. I am especially excited to experience Candomblé firsthand—witnessing people honoring the orixás, and celebrating the culture,  music, and togetherness.

Now, feeling richer in knowledge and experience, I’m ready to shake my bunda (bum) with the moves I learned in our Afro-Brazilian workshop—honoring life and the souls of Bahia. Maybe that means enjoying a few caipirinhas, sharing laughter, and connecting with strangers from different religions and cultures who, through this study abroad journey, are quickly becoming friends. 

Salvador revealed that culture is not something left behind—it lives through remembrance, moves through the body, and is grounded in rhythm, faith, and resilience.

Gabriela Oliva Montes

CBH Administrative Coordinator