Candomble is a word that describes a dance in honor of the gods. This religion traces its origin to Fon, Bantu and Yoruba. The history of Candomble states that it emerged as slaves who originated from Africa tried to maintain their traditional way of worship. The practices are heavily influenced by Catholicism. Despite not having a sacred scripture it has managed to gather over two million followers.
Slaves who were transported to Brazil from Africa are credited with carrying their religious practices to South America. Most of their slave masters were Catholics and did not allow slave to continue with their religious practices. They forced them to convert to Christianity. The slaves resulted to practicing their traditional rituals in disguise. They integrated them with Catholicism which was dominant among slave owners.
As late as 1970s, African decadents were persecuted for following the blend of religion in Brazil. It is after formal recognition that this religion has gained popularity. The city that is most popular with this form of worship is Salvador da Bahia. Many Africans in Brazil still visit this city as they seek to know their history.
While it is termed as religion, many blacks still identify Candomble as a cultural practice and identity. This has seen a push to purge the religion of any practices that are borrowed from Christianity in order to make it purely African. The followers have a God referred to as Oludumare who has deities called Orixas that serve him.
The actions of worshipers are not described as good or bad. The common belief is that there are consequences for every wrong action. Each individual is alive to fulfill a particular goal. This goal is controlled by Orixas who also protects you during your daily endeavors.
The worshipers allow Orixas to possess them by performing certain dances. Orixas are considered as ancestors who died recently or sometimes back. The Orixas are also referred to as Inkices and Viduns. They are spirits and act as the link between God and human beings.
Orixas have connections to beneficial forces like animals and food that individuals need. The personality traits of a worshiper depend on the Orixas that has possessed him or her. The common name for Orixas is Baba Egum or Egungun. It is Egungun who controls societal morality and ensures that it is 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 highly privileged among worshipers and have earned the title Mothers of the Holy One. Their responsibility is to lead the dances and train young priestesses to safeguard the future of their religion. Their temples or places of worship are referred to as terreiros. They designate particular places for each God with clearly demarcated indoor and outdoor space. Worshipers must sprinkle clean water before entering the temple to get rid of external dirt. They also must be in clean clothes.
Slaves who were transported to Brazil from Africa are credited with carrying their religious practices to South America. Most of their slave masters were Catholics and did not allow slave to continue with their religious practices. They forced them to convert to Christianity. The slaves resulted to practicing their traditional rituals in disguise. They integrated them with Catholicism which was dominant among slave owners.
As late as 1970s, African decadents were persecuted for following the blend of religion in Brazil. It is after formal recognition that this religion has gained popularity. The city that is most popular with this form of worship is Salvador da Bahia. Many Africans in Brazil still visit this city as they seek to know their history.
While it is termed as religion, many blacks still identify Candomble as a cultural practice and identity. This has seen a push to purge the religion of any practices that are borrowed from Christianity in order to make it purely African. The followers have a God referred to as Oludumare who has deities called Orixas that serve him.
The actions of worshipers are not described as good or bad. The common belief is that there are consequences for every wrong action. Each individual is alive to fulfill a particular goal. This goal is controlled by Orixas who also protects you during your daily endeavors.
The worshipers allow Orixas to possess them by performing certain dances. Orixas are considered as ancestors who died recently or sometimes back. The Orixas are also referred to as Inkices and Viduns. They are spirits and act as the link between God and human beings.
Orixas have connections to beneficial forces like animals and food that individuals need. The personality traits of a worshiper depend on the Orixas that has possessed him or her. The common name for Orixas is Baba Egum or Egungun. It is Egungun who controls societal morality and ensures that it is 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 highly privileged among worshipers and have earned the title Mothers of the Holy One. Their responsibility is to lead the dances and train young priestesses to safeguard the future of their religion. Their temples or places of worship are referred to as terreiros. They designate particular places for each God with clearly demarcated indoor and outdoor space. Worshipers must sprinkle clean water before entering the temple to get rid of external dirt. They also must be in clean clothes.
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