July, 12, 1999
Greeting Joel,

I have just returned from Brasil... Que maravilha... Que bella... the experience was rejuvenating... I have visited Salvador da Bahia several times, but on each occasion I have fallen in love with this historic city... over and over again... it is the warmth... the smiles... the presence of the orishas... the music... the dance... the food... ordinary people walking in the streets. The joy of a city alive with itself... its vibrancy... its blackness... its Africanity in every thread of the fabric of its colonial presence... Salvador is the soul of Brasil and I am still not able to understand how and why I have not lived in this city for an extended period of time.(...)

Joel... I give thanks for your generosity... love... and friendship... I am missing you and remembering you daily... (...)

Axe
Peace and love...

Dr. Acklyn R. Lynch
University of Maryland
Department of african Studies
Baltimore