Lavagem de Madeleine festival celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture in Paris

The 25th edition of Lavagem de Madeleine, one of Europe’s largest gatherings of Afro-Brazilian culture, is expected to draw approximately 60,000 participants to Paris. The event, scheduled from the 10th to the 13th of this month, brings together Brazilians, French citizens, and international tourists.

Created by multi-artist Roberto Chaves, known as Robertinho, the event is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in France and is part of the official Parisian calendar. It receives support from the local Paris municipality, the Bahia Tourism Secretariat, and Embratur.

The celebration is also integrated into UNESCO’s Slave Route, an international cultural itinerary designed to preserve the memory of the history of slavery. The tradition was inspired by the Lavagem da Igreja do Bonfim in Salvador, Bahia, and was first established by Chaves in 1998.