El milagro de Candeal - 2004

 

Candeal's miracle has its origin in a true story: that of Carlinhos Brown, who was born and raised in a neighborhood of Salvador de Bahia, and who today is an international music star. The artist has invested his time and money in trying to eradicate poverty and violence in Candeal. With the help of music he has made extraordinary advances in these aspects, developing community projects to improve the quality of life in the community, among others, the Pracatum Popular Music School (which provides young people in the neighborhood with a professional outlet) . Carlinhos and the Pracatum Association have made Candeal the most developed and peaceful community in Brazil.

Twenty years of efforts have been necessary to make Candeal a human and habitable place, calm and without weapons. Two decades to rehabilitate the neighborhood, put sewers, paint houses, minimize disease and eliminate infant mortality. For this work, Carlinhos Brown was awarded by UNESCO in 2002.

On his side, the film director Fernando Trueba shot a film inspired by the story of Carlinhos Brown and the Candeal community entitled El milagro de Candeal. Along with Carlinhos Brown, the singer and composer Gilberto Gil, CaetanoVeloso (creator with Gil of the tropicalista movement that revolutionized Brazilian music), Marisa Monte (from Tribalistas) and the great Bebo Valdés, who meets his sister music, participate in the film. from Salvador de Bahía and that is where he believes that the music, culture and religion of his African ancestors has been preserved in a purest way.

Today, Candeal is an active cell of creativity and musical agitation. The relationship of educational centers, musicians, groups and auditoriums that meet today in Candeal is extremely intense.

According to Carlinhos Brown, "Revolution destroys, evolution builds. Candeal is the construction of meaning, of gentleness, of goodness. We do not want paternalism, we want social emergency. Food or learning to plant? Learn and pass the knowledge so that all take advantage of them. Humanity needs to dance together, dance forever. " Fernando Trueba states that Carlinhos has a highly developed sense of responsibility towards his community. He knows that he is an example for many boys and tries to distribute that responsibility so that Candeal is not just him. Children are also essential protagonists of El milagro de Candeal, always present in the music classrooms, in the streets playing percussion, in the talks in which Carlinhos Brown teaches them that percussion is at the origin of life and that even the smallest, the most insignificant is used to make and live music.

Trueba believes that when you see Candeal's childhood, there is something inside you that changes you. The Spanish filmmaker believes that "the people of Candeal are richer than those of many other places. I would like El milagro de Candeal to contribute to publicizing a community that seems exemplary to me. that they have already achieved. Because it teaches us by example that the world can be improved. "

Also the neighborhood of Candeal teaches us that perfect coexistence between ancestral traditions and modernity that occurs in the favela of Bahia. Candeal's miracle is the visual demonstration that through music violence and poverty can be overcome. Candeal is the living and current example of this possibility. But, above all, it is a hymn to hope and to music as a possibility to improve people's lives. To creation, generosity and illusion as an alternative to destruction, selfishness and disenchantment. The miracle of Candeal reveals to us that it is still possible to trust in a more supportive and better world. That there are people fighting for their paradise now. 

Tracks list:

01. SilêncioD´Allah (Bilú do Paraíso)

02. Aldeia (Carlinhos Brown)

03. Blenblenblen (Carlinhos Brown y la Banda del Camarote Andante / Bebo Valdés)

04. Carlito marrón (Carlinhos Brown)

05. Zambiemameto (Carlinhos Brown / Mateus)

06. Candeal de Santo Antônio (Carlinhos Brown)

07. Músico (Carlinhos Brown / Marisa Monte / Bebo Valdés)

08. Faixa de cetim (CaetanoVeloso)

09. Agogô Valdés (Carlinhos Brown y Bebo Valdés)

10. Serenata aoLuar (Carlinhos Brown y la Banda del Camarote Andante)

11. Misericórdia (Mateus)

12. Ashansu (Carlinhos Brown y Banda Timbalada)

13. Pintado e sua gente (Carlinhos Brown)

14. Sal de Yemanjá (Hip Hop Roots)

15. Carnaval medley: Blenblenblen / Carnavália / Faraó / Toda paz / Serpente e serpentina (Carlinhos Brown y la Banda del Camarote Andante)