Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Maurício Mota: Connecting the US and Brazil through African Diaspora Stories

Maurício Mota Archives

A New Venture in Brazilian Soft Power

As the country’s demographic trends shift towards a minority-majority population, content creators seek new ideas that best fit a growing demand for fresh, diverse stories. Recently, a new venture led by the Academy Award-winning actor Viola Davis, her husband Julius Tennon, and Brazilian producer and entrepreneur Maurício Mota caught the attention of many by looking to a different angle, by telling African-inspired stories through Brazilian lenses, more specifically, looking at creative inspiration from the state of Bahia, one of the largest in Brazil, to design products that export Brazilian Soft Power to the rest of the world.

The Connection to Bahia

Bahia was the location of Brazil’s first capital (Salvador) after its conquest by the Portuguese, and it was also the first port of entry for millions of enslaved people from Africa. Historians estimate that between the 16th and 19th centuries, approximately 5.5 million enslaved people entered the country, many of them through Bahia’s ports. That makes this state, to this day one of the most relevant when it comes to African life, including its culture, religions, music, fashion, and food.

The Founders’ Vision

I spoke with the founders about their current plans. Below is an edited version of our conversation with Maurício Mota and Julius Tennon.

How did the relationship between the three of you start?

We met as board members of the Annenberg Inclusive Initiative, a pioneering research organization led by Dr. Stacy Smith. After that, the three of us were invited to be executive producers on a Telethon called XQ Super School Live, which mobilized people all over the US about the importance of High School Education. One year later, Maurício was looking for the right partner to adapt the play Asphalt Kiss by Brazilian author Nelson Rodrigues—one of the most important plays ever performed in Latin America—for film and theater in the US. We had a great meeting and started developing the project.

What attracted you to Bahia?

The rich historical and cultural aspects are what first attracted me to Bahia. I didn’t know much of the history before, but my visit with Maurício was truly an eye-opening experience. It felt like I was kin to it. Brazil is also home to one of Viola’s biggest fan bases, so it’s a unique opportunity for us to be able to work with the wonderful and talented people there.

What does Ashé mean, and what’s its vision?

Ashé is a Yoruba word with many robust definitions, and that expression inspires Ashé Ventures. It’s the divine power to make things come to life. Building a company focused on Brazilian Soft Power needed a name synonymous with the contribution Afro-Brazilians have made, and still make, to what makes the country so special and respected worldwide. Ashé is also an homage to the millions of Brazilians connected to the Yoruba faith.

What type of projects are in the pipeline?

We just launched phase one of an epic action/adventure Audio Original Series with Audible based on a bestselling award-winning graphic novel called Angola Janga. It tells the stories of a kingdom created by runaway slaves that became a symbol not only of resistance but also of the ingenuity, power, and brilliance of our African ancestors. It is the first time we portray an African God (Exú) as a protagonist of pop culture. Zumbi, the hero of the kingdom, is still remembered by most Brazilians as a symbol of the power of Black excellence and leadership.

Conclusion

Ashé has the goal of becoming the bridge between US artists, brands, Hollywood studios, and fans and Brazilian artists, content, and ideas from the African diaspora in the country. There is so much innovation and excellence coming from artists and entrepreneurs from Bahia such as Luedji Luna, Talita Morais, Baco Exu do Blues, Hisan Silva, Pedro Batalha, Maurício Sacramento, Ubunto, Patrick Fortuna, Vinicius Santana. Our goal is to help the existing ecosystems around Soft Power reach their full potential through partnerships, collaborations, and connections with the rest of the world.

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of Ashé Ventures?
A: Ashé Ventures is a company focused on Brazilian Soft Power, designed to export Brazilian content and ideas to the rest of the world.

Q: What type of projects is Ashé working on?
A: Ashé is working on an epic action/adventure Audio Original Series with Audible, a movie version of Angola Janga, and a partnership with fashion journalist and influencer Luiza Brasil to start designing content and projects around lifestyle and fashion.

Q: Is the idea to bring some of these projects to the US?
A: Yes, Ashé has the goal of bringing some of these projects to the US, with the vision of becoming the bridge between US artists, brands, Hollywood studios, and fans and Brazilian artists, content, and ideas from the African diaspora in the country.