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Neoenergia and Ilê Aiyê Block

To celebrate more than 50 years of Ilê Aiyê, one of the greatest representatives of Afro-Brazilian culture, Neoenergia joins this fight, praising African ancestry and the role of black women. The purpose of the partnership is to support diversity and promote social inclusion.


This is the first African block in Brazil and the company joins together to carry out, over the year 2025, eight cultural and social initiatives promoted by the institution, which is a symbol of resistance and black leadership. Among the projects supported in the first quarter are the Black Music Festival, the 44th Night of Black Beauty, and the Carnival parade

.

“The partnership is essential for strengthening and maintaining our annual plan. Events such as Carnival, the Night of Black Beauty, the Black Music Festival, and the Freedom Parade are essential to celebrate ancestry and value black identity. This partnership helps us to keep the tradition alive and to expand the cultural and social impact of Ilê Aiyê, reaffirming our commitment to the preservation and promotion of Afro-Brazilian culture. We are confident that this union will bring lasting and transformative results

”

Antônio Carlos dos Santos, Ilê's Grandfather, founder and President of Ilê Aiyê

Among the initiatives included in the sponsorship are the block's parades during Carnival, the Mother Hilda School, which promotes anti-racist education, and the Band'Aiyê project, which connects Ilê's music to new generations.

Some Ilê events and initiatives for 2025:


Band'Êre Project: percussion, singing and dance school for children and adolescents with Afro-Brazilian History, Interpretation and Languages, Musical Rhythms and Body Health classes.
Black Music Festival: music contest in which the finalists win the Black Bird Trophy and the winning songs become part of the carnival repertoire.
Black Beauty Night: cultural contest that highlights black beauty, including dance and music performances and marks the choice of the queen of the block for Carnival, the Goddess of Ebony.
Freedom Walk: event organized in partnership with the Bahia Forum of Black Entities, as a manifesto against racism and the celebration of black culture.

DID YOU KNOW?

Learn some interesting facts about Ilê Aiyê:
The expression in Yoruba language, Ilê = house and Aiyê = land. The translation of the name can be understood as “our house” or “our Earth”.
Since the construction of its name, the block has been linked to the heritages of the Orixás and to the social and cultural customs of Africa.
The creation date of the block coincides with a historic and important moment for global black society: the emergence of the Négritude movement, the arrest of Angela Davis (USA), the creation of Africa Day (UN) and the independence of several African countries, such as Cape Verde, Angola and Mozambique, among other events.
Since its founding, the block has been paying homage to African countries, nations, cultures, and the Brazilian black revolts, which strongly contributed to the process of strengthening the ethnic identity and self-esteem of black Brazilians

The choice of colors carries several meanings, such as the association with the black clay of the Lands of Freedom and with black skin. The white lines represent peace, the yellow refers to beauty and cultural richness, and the red recalls the blood of black people, shed during the struggles

for liberation.

Diversity at Carnival

Today, Carnival is one of the most important spaces of diversity and inclusion, after the various transformations and the resignification it underwent over the decades. With a European origin, Carnival in Brazil was influenced by African and native peoples, bringing diverse groups to the center of the festival.
In addition to the celebration, the date marks a democratic moment of diversity and political and economic sociability, uniting society in a plural and egalitarian way in all areas. In many regions of the country, Carnival days can be celebrated in an accessible way and with marks of the culture of each state.