Trancoso Brazil

Situated on the southern coast of Bahia, Brazil, Trancoso is a village I have been photographing since the early 2000s. My parents settled there after more than thirty moves. These images are a small selection from those early years, with a book in progress. The town, its people, its calmness. Trancoso is not where I am from, but it is where I return to, and where I feel at home.

São Sebastião Festival

The festival of São Sebastião is a popular religious event held in Trancoso on January 20th and 21st. It is a vibrant celebration of faith and culture, there is singing and festivities through the day in which locals and visitors join together to celebrate Saint Sebastian. The music and singing is led by local families who have lived in trancoso since it was just a tiny fishing village, giving the celebrations and town itself a unique atmosphere.

Yemanjá

People gather every year on 2 February to celebrate Yemanjá. The festival is an act of devotion to the Queen of the Sea, with flowers and gifts offered to the ocean as expressions of faith, gratitude and hope. Rooted in Candomblé, an Afro Brazilian religion, it is both a sacred ritual and cultural tradition. Many Brazilians take part regardless of their religious beliefs, making it a powerful expression of community, heritage, and connection to the sea.