Helvécia

“Upon learning of the abolition of slavery, in 1888, the slaves exulted. With joy, the women knocked on each other, sang, shouted, others banged on boxes. Since they beated theirs stomachs against each other, they decided to baptize this dance the bate-barriga (beats-the-belly). ” - Faustina Zacarias Carvalho (on the right).Helvécia, Bahia, Brazil. December 2015.