ВойтиWashing of church steps in Paris celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture
Such is the expectation of the event’s creator, Roberto Chaves – or Robertinho, as the multi-artist is called. Born in the state of Bahia, Brazil, he has lived in France since 1990, where he promotes Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian culture.
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Designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage of France, the Lavagem de Madeleine is part of the French capital’s official calendar and receives support from the local city government and Bahia’s State Department of Tourism, as well as sponsorship from the Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur).The event is also part of the UNESCO Routes of Enslaved Peoples, an international cultural itinerary that connects sites related to the history of slavery and seeks to preserve the memory of that period.
Origin
Robertinho explains that the idea to organize the washing of the steps of a church in Paris – inspired by the Lavagem do Bonfim at the Church of Bonfim in Salvador, Bahia – came about in 1998 at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre, using the World Cup in France as an opportunity to promote Brazil.
“I wanted to bring Brazil closer to me, to ease my homesickness, my longing for family and friends, and to share its culture, so I thought of organizing an event inspired by Bahia, a place I knew well,” he said.
One day, while passing by the Church of La Madeleine, Roberto Chaves recounts, he decided to talk to the priest in charge of the parish and discovered that the priest had already visited Bahia and knew its people.
From then on, the washing grew in scale each year. “Last year, participants totaled 60,000.” The procession for the 2025 edition was led by the Afro-Brazilian group Olodum.
Significance
Robertinho believes that the washing is of great significance to Brazil and to Afro-Brazilian culture.
“The Lavagem shows that Brazil has cuisine, culture, capoeira, and dance,” he said.
Program
The photo exhibition Três Olhares (“Three Perspectives”), celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Lavagem, will open the event on September 10 at the Brazilian Embassy in France. On September 11 and 12, an Afro-Brazilian dance workshop will be held.
The parade is the event’s highlight. Over 700 artists will take to the streets of Paris on September 13, showcasing Afro-Brazilian culture. This year, singer Mariene de Castro and Robertinho Chaves will lead the procession.
“Fifteen Afro-Brazilian folk groups will march in the parade.” Also participating are percussion, samba, maracatu, and capoeira groups – as well as the women of Bahia, the baianas.
The gathering will take place at Place de la République. From there, the parade will proceed to the Church of La Madeleine, where the traditional symbolic washing of the steps by the baianas will take place, in a ceremony marked by dialogue between different religious and cultural traditions.
To highlight this syncretism, Brazilian opera singer Lorena Pires – a member of the Paris National Opera Academy since last year – will perform Ave Maria, reinforcing the convergence of the different cultural traditions that characterize the event.
