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CURRENTS
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Candomblé
Candomblé rituals are practiced in centros or terreiros directed by a mae do santo (woman) or pai do santo (man). Unlike many of the more dominant religions of the world, women play major roles in the ceremonies. The usual object of a Candomblé ceremony is to persuade the spirits to descend into the bodies of worshippers. The ceremony may involve animal sacrifices (done outside public view), offerings of food and drink, drumming, dancing and the invocations of the mae or pai do santo. Devotees dance for hours to induce the trance that allows the spirits to enter them. The language used is Yoruba, passed on verbally from generation to generation. Once in a trance, the dancers change into the sacred costumes of the orixás (deities) and then return to the main hall in a triumphant procession as the spirits are once again amongst the congregation. A possession can be quite frightening; the dancers may whoop and shudder, their eyes roll up, and they whirl around the floor, bouncing off the walls while the other cult members try to make sure they come to no harm.
One of the most popular orixás in Salvador is Iemanjá, sometimes
characterized as a sea goddess or a mermaid, sometimes as the Virgin Mary. On
February 2nd in Bahia, her worshippers offer flowers, perfume and face powder
at the edge of the sea (Iemanjá is a vain goddess, appeased only by flowers
and cosmetics). If the offerings sink in the water or are carried out to sea,
Iemanjá is said to accept them. If they return to shore, she rejects
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Resistance
to slavery took many forms. Many slaves sought solace in their African religion
and culture, in their dance and song. The slaves were given perfunctory indoctrination
into Catholicism. Except for the Islamic element, a syncretic religion rapidly
emerged. Spiritual elements from many of the African tribes, such as the Yoruba,
Bantu and Fon were preserved and made palatable to the slave masters with a
façade of Catholic saints and ritual objects. These are the roots of
modern Macumba and Candomblé that were once prohibited by law.
