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Candomble & Orixas
The document provides an overview of Candomblé, a Afro-Brazilian religious tradition shaped by African cultural elements due to the transatlantic slave trade. It discusses the syncretism of Candomblé with Christianity and Native American practices, the significance of Orixás as natural forces and divinities, and the intricate social structures and rituals associated with the religion. Key concepts, terminology, and various Orixás along with their attributes, colors, and associated days are also elaborated to illustrate the complexity of Candomblé's belief system.
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Candomble & Orixas
- 1. Candomble & Orixas Forcesof Nature CANDOMBLE ȘI ORIXAS - PUTEREA NATURII Introduction - Basic notions Ceai et caetera – Braşov Romanya July 2014 – Cecilia Mel
- 2. African origin ofCandomble • African people were brought to American continent to work as slaves for Portuguese and Spanish colonies. In Brazil, most Africans were coming from African west coast and mostly debarked in Salvador de Bahia, to be taken to other lands. • Main nations slavered were Ketu (Yoruba-Nago language), Bantu- Angola (Kikongo lg.) and Jeje (Fon-Gen lg.) (Dahomey, Angola, Congo, Ijexa, Oyo) • Once in Brazilian territory, landlords would mix people form different origins as a way to prevent them form organizing themselves for insurrection and have discord among them. This caused mixed african traditions in the New Land. • Candomblé (possible ethymological meaning): 1. an Angolan Atabaque / 2. Candonbidé= act of praising (fro sthm or sbd)
- 7. Syncretism and Newexpressions • Mixed African populations caused a mixture of traditions. • In America, African people were banned from performing their traditions. That is why started to hide their customs under Christian-Catholic rites (syncretism) • Native American rites were also included when Africans made contact with indians. • Oral transition of traditions distorted the original rites
- 8. AXE – Forceof nature • “Animist”: Nature has forces and energies. They live in its natural elements. Vital and essential principles of all that exists. • Axe is dynamic: created, contained, transmitted and destroyed and renewed. • It may reside in any place, object or criature of nature. • "Aché (Axé, Asé) is the magic force that moves all things in the universe according to the African religions in Brazil. It exists in all realms of nature and can be transmitted through specific rituals. ” --p.6 Almeida, Bira(Mestre Acordeon). Capoeira: A Brazilian Art Form. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 1986. Print.
- 9. African characteristics in Candomble •There is no good&bad, no saint&evil. Dualities exist but they are both sides of one same thing. • Moral and justice are considered according to consequences, social impacts, traditions and customs. • There is one main Divinity, Olodumare. Too far from human understanding. It is not worshiped directly. • Orixas are bounds to nature and ancestry. They are worshiped as a way to connect with environment, to community and to Olodumare. • There is a strict structure of traditions, customs, rituals, etc. to perform religiosity and every-day life. All rites have an explanation. • Importance of entangled traditions: oral transmitions, songs, music, foods, clothing, etc • Importance of hierarchy and social roles inside the community (terreiro)
- 10. • In Brazil,religious organization and structure was copying the African social structure as a way to keep order among the slaves themselves. • Candomble hierarchies and roles come from a political-religious-social structure.
- 11. Basic glossary –Important notions • Terreiro: temple for Candomble practises. • Ialorixa/Babalawo (Mae/Pae de santo): Priest • Iniciated (Filho de santo): devotee under the guard of a specific Orixa. Iyawo: devotee who can receive an Orixa. Different from Oga (male), Ekeji (female). • Avamunha: “cleaning” aperture and salutation to begging a religious session performed by the female initiated priests. • Xire: order to salutate the Orixas during religious practise • Jogo de buzios: oracle of cauries (buzios). Divination • Ori: head, stone. Place where the orixa lives. Physical place where the devotees refers to for spiritual performance. Head in the body. Stone in the temple.
- 14. Drums and music •Atabaque (drums): there are three different drums for playing Candomble rythm: Run o atabaque (maior), Run pi o atabaque (do meio), Lé o atabaque ( menor). • Campana o agogo: gives the “key” rythm
- 15. Offerings and otherelements
- 16. Orixas: -one aspect ofmanifestation of Olodumare -a way to get closer to Olodumare Divinities ruling different aspects of life and nature • Places, environments • Human characters • Works/jobs/activities • Moments in life • Parts of the body • Relationships • Prohibitions Approached by • Symbols • Food • Offering/oblation • Song • Dance • Clothing, accessories • Day of the week ORI: Head XA: Guardian, the one who owns “The guardian of the Head” “The one that owns the head” “Owner of the head”
- 17. Exú • Salutation: LaroyêExú! • Colors: red and black (primary colors fussion) • Day: Monday • Syncretism: Evil/ san Antonio • Energy: libido-ego, changes, movement, controversy, begging of things • Place: crossroads, behind the doors, everywhere • Action: dayly things, sex (procreation), arguments, transformation, magic, comunication • Rithm: Agueré, Bravun or Bata, Ijexa • Element: fire, lava • Tool/accesory: Ogo (falo)
- 19. Ogum • Salutation: Ogunhê! •Colors: blue, green (sometimes red) • Week Day: Tuesday • Sincrethism: San Jorge/ San Antonio • Energy: Work, War, Progress, Conquer, • Places: War field, streets, begginings • Action: violent war, conquer, work, hard and strengh demanding jobs • Rythms: Aguere, Ijexa • Element: earth (woods, roads), fire, metal • Tool/accesory: Anvil, knife, shovel, hoe, work tools
- 21. Oxossi • Salutation: Okêarô!! • Colors: green, blue (turquoise) • Week day: Thursday • Syncretism: San Sebastian/San Jorge • Energy: Hunting, Provider, Civilization, Feeding, rebelion, guardian. • Places: woods. • Action: civilization, hunting, guarding • Rythm: Aguere • Element: earth • Tool/accesory: Ofá (arch), Damatá (arrow), Erukeré
- 23. Omolu – Obaluaie •Salutation: Atotô! • Colors: brown, beige/ white, black, red • Week day: Monday • Sincrethyism: San Lazaro / San Braz • Energy: Sickness, epidemy, healing, health, life and death, passages • Lugar: earth • Action: (guerreiro, rei, cazador) • Rythmo: Opanije, Bravun or Bata • Element: earth, fire (under earth fire) • Tool/accesory: Xaxará ou Íleo, lance, lagidibá.
- 25. Xango • Salutation: KawoKabiesilê! • Colors: red and white, brown and white • Week day: Thursday • Syncrethism: S. Jerônimo, S. Pedro, S. João Batista, S. Judas Tadeu • Energy: virility, Justice, war, pleasures • Place: war • Action: authority, justice, male seduction, war • Rythm: Aguere, Bravun or Bata, Aluja • Element: fire • Tool/accesory: Oxes (double axes), Edún-Àrá, xerê
- 27. Oxumare • Salutation: ArroboboiOxumarê! • Colors: yellow and green (or black), all rainbow colors • Week day: Tuesday • Syncrethism: San Bartolomeo • Energy: abundance, long life, life cicles, movement and changes, water changes • Places: between earth and air • Action: changes, growing, states of water • Rythm: Bravun or Bata • Element: air, water, • Tool/accesory: Ebiri, serpent, circle, bradjá.
- 29. Osanha – Ossaim •Salutation: Ewê ô! • Colors: green and white with red strip • Week day: Thursday • Syncretism: San Roque/ São Expedito, São Benedito • Energy: medicine, leaves • Lugar: earth (woods), plants • Action: herbal healing, • Rythm: Aguere • Element: earth • Tools/accesory: baston with seven picks (tree) with a bird on top
- 31. Iemanja - Yemoja •Salutation: Odò ìyá! • Colors: silver and white, blue • Week day: Saturday • Syncretism: Nossa Senhora da Concepcao da Praia/Nuestra Seniora de los Navegantes • Energy: maternity (raising), sea, abundance, psychological and mind health. • Place: sea (salted water), beach • Action: nourriture, children raising, fishing, • Ritmo: Aguere, Jika • Element: salted water • Tool/acccesory: abebe,
- 33. Iansa • Salutation: EpaheyOyá! • Colors: brown, red, cobre • Week day: Wednesday • Syncretism: Santa Barbara • Energy: tempest, death, female active sexuality, war • Place: cemetery, everywhere • Action: war, limit with the dead, • Rythm: Aguere, Jika, Ijexa, Ilu • Element: fire, water, air (wind) • Tool/accesory: sword, Erukere, horn.
- 35. Oxum • Salutation: Orayê yê ô! • Colors: yellow, golden • Week day: Saturday • Syncretism: Nossa Sra. da Conceição, Nossa Sra. da Aparecida, Nossa Sra. da Penha • Energy: seduction, love, friendship, abundance, maternity (conception), passive female sexuality, beauty. • Place: rives, waterfalls, • Action: bathing • Rythm: Aguere, Bravun or Bata, Ijexa • Elements: sweet water • Tool/accesory: abebe, female accesories
- 37. Logunede • Salutation: OlorikimLogun! / Logun ô akofá! • Colors: yellow and blue, turquoise, emerald green • Week day: Thursday • Syncretism: Santo Expedito/ San Miguel Arcangel • Energy: teen energy, abundance, beauty • Place: woods, rives, waterfalls, • Action: hunting, cellebration • Rythm: Ijexa • Element: earth and water • Tool/accesory: abebe, ofa, erukere, scales
- 39. Oba • Salutation: ObáXiré Yá! • Colors: pink, coral • Week day: Thursday • Syncretism: Santa Juana de Arco • Energy: love, (professional) success, war. Self distress • Place: revolted waters • Action: war, hunting, self suffering • Rythm: • Element: fire, water • Tool/accesory: Ofange (sword) cobre shield, ofá (arch and arrow)
- 41. Ewa • Salutation: OlorikimLogun! • Colors: coral, red, pink • Week day: Saturday • Syncretism: Santa Lucia • Energy: Beauty, forseeing (6th sense), creativity, inocence • Place: Woods, Pink sky and stars, river waters and lakes • Action: • Rythm: • Element: • Tool/accessory: Ejô (cobra) sword, Ofá (lance or arpoon)
- 43. Nana • Salutation: SalubaNanã! • Colors: lilac, purple. Blue (anil) white and red. • Week day: Sunday, Tuesday • Syncretism: Santa Ana • Energy: life and death, health, ancestral maternity, mistery, subconsciousness, • Places: morass, swamp • Action: bathing in mud • Rythm: Sato • Element: earth, water (mud) • Tool/accesory: Ibiri (Palmtree leaf stick)
- 45. Iroko - Tempo •Salutation: Iroko y Só! Eeró! • Colors: white, ash-grey, green • Week day: Tuesday • Syncretism: • Energy: Ancestrality. Weather changes. • Place: woods (tree) • Action: communication with ancestors • Rythm: • Element: wood (tree) • Tool/accessory: lance, “grill”
- 47. Orunmila (Ifa) • Salutation: •Colors: white • Week day: • Syncretism: • Energy: oracle, clarividence, perseverance • Place: • Action: forseeing, to continue, perseverance, dreaming • Rythm: • Element: air • Tool/accessory: ifa (oracle), iruke
- 49. Oxala Oxaguian Oxalufa •Sautation: ÈPA BÀBÁ ! • Colors: White • Week day: friday • Syncretism: Jesus Christ • Energy: mael procriation, Criation, life and death. • Place: atmosphere, sky • Action: warrior for peace. Aknowledgment • Rythm: Bravun or Bata, Ijexa, Igbi • Element: air, water • Tool/accesory: Opajoro (Oxaflufa), mase and shield (Oxaguia)
- 51. Egungun • Spirit ofancestor • Bound between past community and nowadays • Personification of Justice, moral, traditions • An important ancestor becomes Egungun
- 52.