Yemanja and Juneteenth

Maintaining the practice of honoring Yemanja at the ocean is important, because it is intricately linked to honoring the ancestors of our religion. Without them, we wouldn’t have Candomblé.

Orisa: Resilience in the Diaspora and at Home

It can be as challenging to discuss the Yoruba culture as it is to discuss Candomblé – both are words that we use to describe what can be, at times, vastly different practices or beliefs.

Agudas: From Yorubaland to Brazil & Back

During slavery, Yoruba people were among the later ethnic groups to be captured. Yoruba-Brazilians, then, had clearer memories of their roots which allowed them to return home.

Praising Mothers

Orisa bi iya, ko si. Iya la ba ma bo. In other words, there is no Orisa like (or greater than) mother, it is mother who is worthy to be praised.

Ecology and Candomblé

Part of our worship of nature involves making offerings, but all too often those offerings become pollution – an affront to the very nature we serve.  While we absolutely have religious freedom and can practice our beliefs without fear, we also have the responsibility of keeping the environment clean.

Orisha Workshop: Chicago

Candomblé Doesn’t Begin with the Xirê

A xirê can be one of the most exciting, beautiful and breathtaking experiences you ever have in Candomblé.  Many people come to religion (in general) through public events – revivals, music & concerts, social gatherings; Candomblé is no different.  A xirê is a drumming in Candomblé where the female members of a terreiro dance in honor

Feast of the Iyabas

The end of the year marks a special time for celebration in most terreiros.  The female Orixás, Iyabas, are honored with a public feast.  Here are some videos showing the rum (hoom – the segment of the feast where the Orixá dances to their songs telling their story) of the Iyabas.  Enjoy! Rum de Iyewa

Iyawo – a poem

Iyawo by Nany Kipenzi Vieira   A few words heard from afar, someone touched my feet.  A summoning or sweetness? Time to wake up! The sun has yet to rise, but Iyawo it’s your time. Don’t say a thing, you just finished conversing with your ancestors during your sleep, sacred time. You need to return to

Yemanjá: Ecological Wisdom From the Heart of Brazil

In August I came across the trailer for an upcoming documentary, Yemanjá: the film.  To my surprise, the documentary has also already been released (and has English subtitles!).  In addition to addressing Candomblé as a nature-based religion, it takes a look at the political nature of Candomblé as a religion of resistance against racism and

Where’s the Trono?

A few years ago I went to a religious movie night hosted by a Lukumi Iyalorisha friend of mine.  We watched documentaries about both Lukumi and Candomblé, and were able to do a little comparative study through them to learn about each religion. One of the videos we saw was a drumming for Iemanja by

Documentary: Omolu

August-September marks the season when terreiros across Brazil celebrate Omoluaye with the ceremony of the Olubaje.  Here’s another documentary with English subtitles that teaches a little about who Omolu is.

Inside a Terreiro: Casa de Òsùmàrè

Here’s another look inside of a terreiro.  Fusion.net visited the Casa de Òsùmàrè in Bahia to film this short documentary about Candomblé.  In English, some background is provided about the religion’s survival in Brazil during political persecution.