In 2023 and 2025, I traveled to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil with the amazing support and guidance of tourism innovator Ronnell Perry, founder of AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel.
Ronnell’s Ancestral Spirits travel experience fed and grounded my spirit, heart, mind, and body with what I needed during both trips.
During my 2023 travel experience, I celebrated my 58th birthday and the kicked off the beginning of my second Saturn Return.
I also fulfilled a lifelong dream of honoring my loving + wise + well ancestors during the 100th anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá (Yemanya Festival).
While I was there, I made a deep connection to the Candomble Oxishas and was inspired to create poetry, drawings, and a wire sculpture collection that honored Iemanja, Oxun, Iansa, Xango, Ewa, Oxossi, and Ogum.
In 2025, I returned to Salvador da Bahia to celebrate my 60th birthday and honor the ancestral ascension of my mother Theresa during the 102nd anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá.
My soul sistalove Tonya Butler-Truesdale also participated in the Ancestral Spirits experience.
Last year, I took a deeper dive into the Afro-Brazilian art, cuisine, culture, fashion, and spirituality.
Extending my stay several days to explore various neighborhoods and museums helped me make a commitment to learn and master Brazilian Portuguese over the next five years, identify and respond to art fellowships, begin the journey of developing my second novel about an African American woman in Salvador da Bahia, seek out Afro-Brazilian experiences and friendships in my local community, and plan future trips to Brasil.
Ronnell and AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel continue to be an integral part of my Brazilian journey.
He was recently featured in an Ebony article about Salvador da Bahia by Rondel Holder. READ IT HERE.
THANK YOU, SOUL BROTHALOVE RONNELL, FOR ALL YOU ARE AND DO!!!!!
Ananda Leeke 