Candomble is loosely translated to mean dance in honor of the gods. The history of Candomble states that it is an African-Brazilian blend of religion that borrows heavily from Bantu, Fon and Yoruba. It blends these African traditional believes and practices with Christianity and mostly Catholicism. Even with two million followers, it is yet to have a holy scripture.
Candomble dates back to the slave trade years where Africans were taken to Brazil as slaves. Their slave masters did not allow them to continue practicing their religion. Slaves under Christian masters were converted into Christianity. While they acted like converted Christians, the slaves continued to practice behind the backs of their masters. They concealed their African believes in such practices as Catholicism.
The Brazilian community did not tolerate Candomble up to the late 1970s. This explains why this form of religion remained among minority and has only become popular a few decades ago. It is most common in Salvador da Bahia, a popular city for blacks seeking to understand their history.
Many Brazilian Africans identify Candomble as an act of cultural identity and not just religion. There is a push to eliminate the Christianity aspects and retain the purely African forms. Their God is referred to as Oludumare and is served by other deities called Orixas.
Worshipers are not guided by the concepts of good and bad. Their belief is that those who do wrong will have to face harsh consequences. Every human being has a personal goal or responsibility on earth and must fulfill it. This goal or responsibility is under the control of Orixas who also acts as your protector.
Worship is through songs and dances, a situation that allows Orixas to take possession. Orixas are not regarded as gods. They are spirits of departed ancestors either known to you or unknown. These dead ancestors act as intermediaries between human beings and the spiritual world. They also are referred to as Inkices and Vinduns.
There is a connection between the Orixas and forces of nature like animals, food, etc. The personality a person displays relates to his Orixas. The collective name for Orixas is Baba Egum or Egungun. It is Baba Egum who controls morals within this religion and ensures that these morals are perpetuated from one generation to the other.
There are major rituals that are used as a way of worship where priests and priestesses disguise as Egums. Their way of worship is in the form of songs and dances. The dances are meant to call Egum to possess them. A dancer or worshiper who is possessed enters into a trance and begins to enact a community practice. The trance ends when the Orixas is done with the worshiper and leaves his or her body.
Women are referred to as Mothers of the Holy One and are therefore highly revered among worshipers. Their duty is to lead the dances and teach young priestesses the religious practices to ensure that they are perpetuated. Candombles refer to their place of worship terreiros. The compound is clearly marked with indoor and outdoor spaces. Gods have designated spaces as well. Worshipers only enter the temple with clean cloths and after sprinkling clean water that gets rid of external dirt.
Candomble dates back to the slave trade years where Africans were taken to Brazil as slaves. Their slave masters did not allow them to continue practicing their religion. Slaves under Christian masters were converted into Christianity. While they acted like converted Christians, the slaves continued to practice behind the backs of their masters. They concealed their African believes in such practices as Catholicism.
The Brazilian community did not tolerate Candomble up to the late 1970s. This explains why this form of religion remained among minority and has only become popular a few decades ago. It is most common in Salvador da Bahia, a popular city for blacks seeking to understand their history.
Many Brazilian Africans identify Candomble as an act of cultural identity and not just religion. There is a push to eliminate the Christianity aspects and retain the purely African forms. Their God is referred to as Oludumare and is served by other deities called Orixas.
Worshipers are not guided by the concepts of good and bad. Their belief is that those who do wrong will have to face harsh consequences. Every human being has a personal goal or responsibility on earth and must fulfill it. This goal or responsibility is under the control of Orixas who also acts as your protector.
Worship is through songs and dances, a situation that allows Orixas to take possession. Orixas are not regarded as gods. They are spirits of departed ancestors either known to you or unknown. These dead ancestors act as intermediaries between human beings and the spiritual world. They also are referred to as Inkices and Vinduns.
There is a connection between the Orixas and forces of nature like animals, food, etc. The personality a person displays relates to his Orixas. The collective name for Orixas is Baba Egum or Egungun. It is Baba Egum who controls morals within this religion and ensures that these morals are perpetuated from one generation to the other.
There are major rituals that are used as a way of worship where priests and priestesses disguise as Egums. Their way of worship is in the form of songs and dances. The dances are meant to call Egum to possess them. A dancer or worshiper who is possessed enters into a trance and begins to enact a community practice. The trance ends when the Orixas is done with the worshiper and leaves his or her body.
Women are referred to as Mothers of the Holy One and are therefore highly revered among worshipers. Their duty is to lead the dances and teach young priestesses the religious practices to ensure that they are perpetuated. Candombles refer to their place of worship terreiros. The compound is clearly marked with indoor and outdoor spaces. Gods have designated spaces as well. Worshipers only enter the temple with clean cloths and after sprinkling clean water that gets rid of external dirt.
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