Founded as a carnival Afro bloco in Salvador in 1979, Olodum is now a cultural group recognized as a non-governmental organization of public utility by the government of Bahia. Since its debut in the 1980 carnival, Olodum has grown to nearly two thousand members and began addressing historical themes related to African and Brazilian cultures. The band's first LP, "Egito Madagascar," recorded in 1987, achieved great success in Bahia and across the country with the hit song "Faraó - Divindade do Egito" by Luciano Gomes, leading Olodum to international acclaim as an Afro-Brazilian percussion group that has toured over 40 countries.

In 1990, Olodum gained significant exposure when they participated in the track "The Obvious Child" on Paul Simon's album, The Rhythm of the Saints, performing for 750,000 people in Central Park. Following this, Olodum collaborated with renowned national and international musicians such as Pet Shop Boys, Caetano Veloso, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Cliff, and Michael Jackson, showcasing to the world their blend of rhythms incorporating African beats, reggae, samba, and Latin rhythms. In addition to their artistic success, Olodum actively engages in social movements against racism and for civil and human rights.