Didá

Origin

Salvador, BA

Also known as

Banda Didá, Didá Banda Feminina

Genres

samba-reggae, percussion, mpb

Instruments

percussion, drums

Biography

Didá, also known as Banda Didá or Didá Banda Feminina, is a renowned all-female percussion band and cultural institution founded in Salvador, Bahia, on December 13, 1993. Created by musician Neguinho do Samba with the initial support of American singer Paul Simon, the group emerged to challenge the male-dominated environment of Salvador's carnival and promote gender equality, black empowerment, and social welfare through art and education. The band is officially divided into the "Banda Show" for stage performances and tours, and the "Banda Peso" for street performances and carnival events.

Throughout its history, Didá has collaborated with numerous prominent Brazilian and international artists, including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Daniela Mercury, Cláudia Leitte, Carlinhos Brown, Marília Mendonça, Léo Santana, and Anitta. The group made its national debut in 1997 touring alongside Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Gal Costa, and later performed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony alongside Shakira and Carlinhos Brown. Operating from its headquarters in the Pelourinho neighborhood, the institution provides free workshops in percussion, dance, singing, and foreign languages for women and children.

Despite being founded by the same creator as Olodum, Didá maintains complete independence and emphasizes its unique identity as a pioneering social project for female percussionists in Brazil. Led by figures such as conductor Adriana Portela and cultural directors like Viviam Caroline de Jesus Queirós and Débora Souza, the band continues to break barriers in Bahian music. Their enduring legacy in samba-reggae and women's empowerment remains a cornerstone of Afro-Brazilian cultural history.