How is it that Bahia has the second largest black population in the world, second only to Nigeria, yet research shows that there are more followers of Candomble in Rio Grande do Sul, the most white state in Brazil?," he adds. "Until 1977 here in Bahia, performing drumming rituals on the streets was illegal and treated on par with drug-dealing and prostitution. Even now, the black poor will not admit to being Candomble"