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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.
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.
The blacks understand Candomble as more than a religion. It is a way of marking their cultural identity. Over the years, attempts have been made to eliminate Christian influence and retain only the practices that are purely African. Their God is known as Oludumare with Orixas as his deities serving at his whims.
Followers do not have a concept of good and bad. They only believe that if you do the wrong things, you will face the consequences. Each person has a responsibility and a goal to carry out. This goal is a destiny that is controlled by Orixas. The Orixas is also your protector.
The way of worship is to allow Orixas to possess you as you perform a certain dance. Orixas are not gods as such but the spirits of dead ancestors, some of whom are known while others are not. Orixas are the link between the human and spiritual world and also go by the name Viduns and Inkices.
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 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.
The blacks understand Candomble as more than a religion. It is a way of marking their cultural identity. Over the years, attempts have been made to eliminate Christian influence and retain only the practices that are purely African. Their God is known as Oludumare with Orixas as his deities serving at his whims.
Followers do not have a concept of good and bad. They only believe that if you do the wrong things, you will face the consequences. Each person has a responsibility and a goal to carry out. This goal is a destiny that is controlled by Orixas. The Orixas is also your protector.
The way of worship is to allow Orixas to possess you as you perform a certain dance. Orixas are not gods as such but the spirits of dead ancestors, some of whom are known while others are not. Orixas are the link between the human and spiritual world and also go by the name Viduns and Inkices.
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 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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