AfriPOP is always on the lookout for stories from the African diaspora. Here, Nosarieme Garrick, writer and founder of No.1′s Done it Right, a non-profit servicing at-risk youth,  chronicles her time in Brazil:

There’s always been little talk about the African influence on exotic Brazil.  Well I decided to take a week to discover how much of an influence there was and find any relevant material. Here’s some stuff I discovered – Nosa

Between the 16th of September  and the 18th of October Pierre Verger’s work will be acknowledged at the Palacete das Artes Rodin Bahia in the Alliance Française of Salvador. What, you ask? Here’s a little history lesson. Pierre Verger was a world renowned photographer, and ethnographer. He trekked all over theworld capturing images of people and their various cultures in their native state. his travelled led him to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil’s most Africanized state, where he fell head over heels for the culture and ultimately resettled in the blindingly colorful city. In Bahia, Pierre Verger discovered the religion of Candomble a Yoruba-based religion. He spent the rest of his life in worship of the Orixas, the Yoruba deities, and chronicling the African influence in Brazil eventually becoming a Babalwo, a priest of the faith. Here are some samples of his work in Salvador and Lagos, Nigeria.

When it comes to Brazilian music,  Samba and Bossa Nova jazz come to mind, right? These sounds stemmed from music brought over from Angolan and West African slaves. Samba is obviously very much a large part of the culture, but I was curious to find out to what extend. While roaming Brazil I stumbled across rapper Marcelo D2. The Rio natives has a tight grip on his culture by who combining hip hop with samba, to bring and incendiary sound; bound to get your hips gyrating.  More than being beat driven, Marcelo D2′s music comes with a message, speaking out against political injustice and life in the favela’s. Marcelo D2 is no novice, having worked worked with Sergio Mendes, Will I . Am and my favorite cantor Seu Jorge. Get infected:

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Itiquira falls: The 2nd largest falls in the South America in the city of Formosa founded by black slaves on the banks of Itiquira.  The drive there was amazing with hills, valleys and flatlands. Here I was trying to be one with nature, but nature got to me as I sliced my foot on a rock. Very nice.

The verdict: I believe what I saw was just the tip of the iceberg, and I’m sure as I dig deeper I will come across a wealth of information on Afro-Brazilpop. Stay tuned!