Category Archives: Candomblé in Film

Yes, Black is King.

From references to baby Moses flowing down the river in a wicker basket, to painting faces using what looks like efun, a native West African white chalk that is used in religious ceremony, to women walking to the shore holding baskets of flowers on their heads and others with calabashes in their hands – and that’s just the first few minutes – this visual album is a spiritual experience if there ever was one. For me, Black is King showcases the depth of Afro-Diasporic religiosity by highlighting that following Jesus doesn’t mean one has to relinquish, ignore and demonize indigenous ancestry and ways of understanding the brilliance and vast interconnectedness of Olorun’s creation.     

Documentary: Odo Ya! Life With AIDS

Before modern medicine, indigenous people around the world took care of themselves with medicine from the earth.  There was always someone in the community with knowledge of herbs who could help heal the sick, and even prevent illness. During and immediately following slavery, where Africans and their descendants in the diaspora seldom had access toContinue reading “Documentary: Odo Ya! Life With AIDS”

Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile Part 3

Orixa Ninu Ile is a documentary about Candomblé that takes viewers through Ile Axe Opo Afonja in Bahia to take a look at specific Orisha and their worship. This documentary truly is a gem, and I’ve been working on translating and adding subtitles. The full documentary is about 30 minutes long. In order to translate theContinue reading “Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile Part 3”

Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile Part 2

Orixa Ninu Ile is a documentary about Candomblé that takes viewers through Ile Axe Opo Afonja in Bahia to take a look at specific Orisha and their worship. This documentary truly is a gem, and I’ve been working on translating and adding subtitles. The full documentary is about 30 minutes long. In order to translate theContinue reading “Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile Part 2”

Isokuso – How Yoruba Language Influences Candomblé

by Iya Melissa Isokuso means slang in Yoruba. While it’s undeniable that African languages did not survive as living languages in Brazil, there are several words – used by folks who are not even members of Afro-Brazilian religions – that have become part of the colloquial vocabulary. Isokuso, a documentary by Dionysios Kostakis, takes us toContinue reading “Isokuso – How Yoruba Language Influences Candomblé”

Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile

Orixa Ninu Ile is a documentary about Candomblé that takes viewers through Ile Axe Opo Afonja in Bahia to take a look at specific Orisha and their worship. This documentary truly is a gem, and I’ve been working on translating and adding subtitles. The full documentary is about 30 minutes long. In order to translate theContinue reading “Documentary: Orixa Ninu Ile”

Women Combat Religious Intolerance

by Iya Melissa In 2014, Marcos Rezende premiered his documentary, “Mulheres de Axé,” (Women of Axé) during New York City’s Brazil Week.  I had the pleasure of attending the presentation of his work on this project – the documentary and a photo book capturing important images of women in Candomblé.  The documentary is subtitled inContinue reading “Women Combat Religious Intolerance”