Samba is one of Brazil's most popular music and dance styles. In many ways, it is symbol of the country itself. In the words of one modern samba's main artists, Seu Jorge, "Samba is our truth, our peculiarity....and our flag" When people today hear the word Samba, they often think of the festival of Camavan and the city of Rio de Janeiro. But there are many different types of samba, and these styles differ throughout Brazil.
Today, one of the most popular types of samba comes from Bahia, a state in the eastern part of the country. It's called samba reggae. From the 16 to 18th centuries, over three million Africans were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. Today in Bahia, 80 percent of the population is black, Samba from this region of Brazil is heavily influenced by African rhythms. Modern Samba reggae is a mix of Rio samba, African drumbeats, and Jamaican reggae. It is a bit slower than Rio samba, and is usually performed in large groups- sometimes with over 200 drums playing at one time
Bahia's most famous drumming group is Olodum. Many say the group invented the samba reggae sound. But Olodum is not only a musical group. Its members have also created local organizations to help young people and the poor. Every year in the city of Salvador in Bahia, the lively sounds of samba reggae fill the streets during Carnaval - one of the world's greatest parties.
(Adapted from Reading explore 1)