Batala Mundo: A Global Symphony
Batala Mundo is the global family of Batala bands. It connects drummers across continents through shared rhythms, shared choreography and shared cultural heritage. Every group carries the same musical DNA while expressing it within its own community.
Our Lineage
Salvador | The birthplace of samba-reggae and the cultural roots of Batala.
Paris | The creative centre where Batala grew and where new music and choreography continue to be developed.
London | Part of this lineage, carrying Batala’s rhythms into our own communities.
A Global Movement
Batala Mundo brings together bands across Europe, the Americas, Asia and beyond. Each group learns the same rhythms and choreography, creating a shared musical language wherever we play.
Origins in Salvador
Samba-reggae was born in Salvador, Bahia. It grew from Afro‑Brazilian culture, resistance movements and the desire for visibility and pride. Batala Mundo honours these origins by keeping the rhythms connected to their cultural source.
Shared Music and Choreography
All Batala groups learn music and choreography created within Batala Mundo. This keeps the rhythm and movement consistent worldwide while allowing each band to express the music in its own community.
The Batala Ethos
The Batala ethos is rooted in community, respect, shared rhythm, cultural heritage and diversity, with a commitment to learning together, playing together, finding joy in movement and staying connected across borders.
What Batala Mundo makes possible
Batala groups around the world share the same rhythms, choreography, musical signs and calls. This allows drummers from different cities and countries to come together and play as one band, even when they do not share the same spoken language.
Members regularly travel to perform with sister groups, welcome visiting drummers, join larger Mundo gatherings and learn from different musical leaders. Where availability allows, bands can also support one another at performances.
For Batala London, Notting Hill Carnival is one of the clearest examples, bringing drummers from across the Batala Mundo family together in London to rehearse, perform and parade as one.
Diversity at the Heart
Batala Mundo celebrates diversity across all its bands and welcomes people of all backgrounds to share rhythm, movement and community.
Batala London’s Place in Batala Mundo
Learn how we express Batala’s rhythms here in London on our What Is Batala London page.
The Heart of Batala
This film tells the story of Giba Gonçalves and the origins of Batala. It captures the culture, the rhythm and the movement that continue to shape Batala Mundo today.