Candomblé: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil is a double vinyl compilation and bilingual
book documenting a living Afro-Brazilian spiritual tradition. It pairs archival recordings from Ilê Axé Opô Aganjú (1985–88) with newly commissioned works by contemporary artists, and combines historical research, essays, and visual materials to trace Candomblé from its origins in the trauma of the Atlantic slave trade to its vibrant, evolving presence across Brazil and beyond today.
Upon their arrival in Brazil after the traumatic Atlantic crossing, enslaved populations from West Africa sought to reconstruct their sacred cultural and spiritual systems within a profoundly hostile environment. Five centuries later, the vitality of terreiros (ritual grounds) across the country bears witness to a living and adaptive religion that continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in ancestral traditions. Today, Candomblé is celebrated throughout Brazil and increasingly recognised internationally, far beyond Afro-descendant communities.
The project Candomblé: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil, articulated around the publication of a book and a double LP combining original sound archives with newly commissioned compositions, seeks to honour this tradition by documenting its historical foundations while offering a critical and artistic reflection on its contemporary transformations and future trajectories.
