According to residents, Salvador is the most African of all Brazilian cities. Therefore, it is not surprising there is an interesting Afro-Brazilian Museum (Museu Afro-Brasileira), which opens up a fascinating world of history, archeology, and traditions.

The museum can rightfully be called unique. It organically combines European and African features: it shows how seemingly different cultures can coexist, complement, and enrich each other.

The museum was opened on January 7, 1982, thanks to the initiative of local authorities. They advocated the study, protection, and dissemination of information about the culture and traditions of Afro-Brazilians living in El Salvador.

The Afro-Brazilian Museum is in an old building in the city center. Earlier, in the 16th century, the Royal Jesuit College stood on this site. Then it was rebuilt and housed the first medical school in Brazil. It lasted almost until the middle of the 20th century. Now there is a large cultural center, popular among citizens and tourists.

It is there, in the Afro-Brazilian Museum, that the complete information about the Candomblé, a religion that combines Catholic traditions and the deities of the Yoruba peoples, is collected.

Of course, the museum also displays art objects: both old paintings and works by contemporary artists are exhibited there. Ancient statuettes of gods and symbols of various tribes are kept especially carefully. One of the halls is completely dedicated to the preserved images made on the walls of caves and on large wooden boards that decorated the ritual places.

There is a huge map of Africa in one of the halls of the museum. It marks the places from which African slaves were brought to Brazil. An uncountable number of red dots of various sizes show how many people lost their homeland, were forced to work hard in a foreign country. However, they were able to preserve their traditions and culture even in such inhumane conditions.