Volker Conrath has been involved with percussion since 1976; first with African and Afro-Cuban, since 1984 with Brazilian percussion. He lived in Brazil for over three years and organizes trips for people interested in Brazil (brasilophiles). He regularly plays with various Afro-Blocos at Carnival in Salvador. Volker organizes the offers of the music of Bahia at the Samba Syndrome in Berlin (largest workshop festival in Europe). Among other things, the master class with lecturers from Olodum, Ilê Aiyê, Muzenza ...

He specializes in the rhythms of these blocos and passes them on in workshops. In 2013 he founded the Bahia Connection with the aim of giving the samba-reggae groups in Germany a common musical language. Information and arrangements of selected original rhythms of the Afro Blocos from Bahia are provided. The members learn these arrangements and are therefore able to play together across groups. The Bahia Connection is now also available in France, Holland and Switzerland. BC members have played together at various festivals since 2015. Since 2015 (always in January / February) there have been workshop meetings of the BC in Salvador da Bahia every year. In Germany, the BC organizes regular meetings and workshops where we play the music of the Afro Blocos together. BC is open to anyone who plays Bahian music.