Batala Philly is an all-percussion, community band that plays samba reggae music. The group is part of aninternational Batala samba reggae music project based in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Batala was created in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves, a Bahian percussionist. Born and raised in Salvador, Giba was living in Paris when he first had the idea for the band, open to anyone with an interest in learning the samba-reggae beat. A composer and musical director, Giba enlisted the help of friends from the bands from Salvador to create the visual identity of the band. The instruments and clothing are manufactured in Salvador, where the band has a social program that gives jobs to many families. From there they are shipped to member bands around the world.
In 2017, that project arrived in Philadelphia, expanding the East Coast bands of Washington DC and New York in the United States. After some restructuing in 2021, Batala Philly is the only Batala-approved band in Philadelphia. Today, there are 42 and counting Batala bands around the world, in 15 countries, and a worldwide membership of over 1,000 percussionists.
Batala Philly is a dynamic and passionate group of community musicians based in Philadelphia but performing all over the world. The group is entirely by volunteers and proceeds go back into running the band to cover costumes, drums, and rehearsal space.
