Candomblé

Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion that emerged in the 19th century.

It is a complex system of beliefs and practices. This religion developed through a process called syncretism. Syncretism occurs when different religious traditions blend together. Candomblé grew from the traditional religions of West and Central Africa. These roots include the Yoruba, Bantu, and Gbe peoples. It also incorporated influences from Roman Catholicism. This blending helped the faith survive in a colonial environment. Today, it is considered a "sister religion" to Cuban Santería and Haitian Vodou.

There is no central authority or single sacred text in Candomblé. Instead, the religion is organized into autonomous houses called terreiros.

Each terreiro is an independent community. These communities are led by priests or priestesses. A female leader is called a mãe de santo. A male leader is called a pai de santo. Practitioners are often referred to as povo de santo or Candomblecistas. Because there is no central rulebook, the religion is heterogeneous. This means it shows many different regional variations in belief and practice.

Candomblé is divided into distinct traditions known as nações, or nations.

These nations are based on different African linguistic groups. The Ketu nation is the largest and uses the Yoruba language. The Jeje nation adopts the Ewe language. The Angola nation draws from the Bantu language group. Each nation possesses its own unique lexicon, chants, and sacred objects. While these began as ethnic differences, members now choose a nation for many reasons. An initiate can even move from one nation to another. This process is known as trocar as águas, which means "to change the waters."

The theology of Candomblé centers on a supreme creator god. This entity is called Olorun or Oludumaré. Practitioners believe this creator is distant and unapproachable. Because of this distance, the religion focuses on mediating spirits called orixás.

In the Angola tradition, they are called inkice. In the Jeje tradition, they are called vodun. The orixás are seen as embodiments of nature or ancestral figures. They are considered morally ambiguous, meaning they have both virtues and flaws. Each orixá is linked to specific colors, foods, animals, and days of the week.

Rituals are essential for connecting with the spiritual world.

A central ritual involves drumming, singing, and dancing. These actions encourage an orixá to possess a member of the community. During possession, the congregants can interact directly with the spirit. Practitioners also provide offerings to the orixás, such as fruit or sacrificed animals. Divination is used to decipher the will of the spirits. Other offerings are given to lesser spirits, such as caboclos or the egun, who are spirits of the dead. Healing rituals and herbal remedies are also very important.

Many orixás are associated with specific natural forces and personalities. Oxalá is the chief orixá and is linked to fresh water.

Xangô is the orixá of thunder and lightning. Ogum is the spirit of battle and iron. Oxum is associated with love, beauty, and wealth. Exú is a capricious trickster who guards entrances. Because he facilitates contact between humans and other spirits, he is usually honored first in rituals. Many orixás also have child forms called erês. These spirits are known for being uncontrollable and playing pranks.

History shows how Candomblé survived through periods of marginalization. It developed among Afro-Brazilian communities during the Atlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries. The religion primarily coalesced in the Bahia region during the 1800s. After Brazil gained independence, the constitution of 1891 granted freedom of religion. However, the Roman Catholic establishment still often associated Candomblé with criminality. In the 20th century, migration from Bahia spread the religion throughout Brazil and abroad. It also influenced the creation of the religion Umbanda in the 1920s. Recently, some practitioners have pursued re-Africanization to emphasize traditional African roots.