Lesson video

Hello there.

My name is Mr. Robertson.

I'm really excited to be learning with you today.

We have a fantastic lesson in store.

It's part of our unit which asks a big question about Christianity: How have the experiences of the Global South shaped it? And in this unit we've been asking big questions about what happened when Christianity came into places in Africa and South America, and how when it interacted with Indigenous cultures and how it has grown and been shaped.

This lesson focuses on Candomble and looking at spirituality and religion in Brazil.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain the history of Candomble and understand some of the ways in which it is practised.

We have four keywords for this lesson.

Our first key word is ancestors, and these are a family member from the past who has died who in this worldview is believed to offer guidance and protection.

We also have the word divination, which is a practise for understanding spiritual guidance and finding one's Orisha.

We also have the word nation, which is a way of describing a branch or denomination within Candomble.

And finally we have the word Orisha, which are divine ancestor or spirit, intermediaries between humans and the supreme god, Oludumare.

So in this lesson on Candomble, we're going to be looking at two things.

First, we're going to look at a history of Candomble.

So what is Candomble? Well, it's a Brazilian religion centred around the worship of Orishas through music, dance, and ceremonies.

And the word actually means "to dance in honour of the gods." The word Candomble originates from "kandombele" in the African Bantu language, which means "dances." And it's believed to have around 2 million followers.

But actually those numbers could be much larger because for various reasons, it's not necessarily easy to count exactly how many people practise this religion.

So, what is Candomble and where is it found? Well, Candomble developed in Brazil and it's mainly in the Bahia region of Brazil.

And the city of Salvador is particularly its spiritual centre.

You can see a map of the country of Brazil.

It's a massive country in South America with huge variations in landscapes and peoples and languages.

A close up here with the Bahia region, which is the spiritual heartland of Candomble.

So to understand Candomble and why we find it in Brazil, we need to understand the wider history of Brazil and the wider history of what was going on in the times when it originated into Brazil.

Now between the 16th and 19th centuries, around 12 million Africans were forcibly taken to what was known as the New World by the colonial powers including North, central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.

You can see a map there, which shows some of the movement of these millions of people.

The larger the arrow being, the greater the numbers of Africans who were taken to various parts of the world.

About 5.

5 million Africans were forcibly brought to Brazil, which is more than any other one country.

And the port city of Salvador became a major point of arrival and a centre of African cultural and religious life.

So these Africans were forcibly brought, enslaved and were tools of the profit of the big powers of Britain, France, and Spain at the time.

So Candomble itself is an ancient and distinct religion with roots that stretch back thousands of years.

It's mainly based on West African spiritual traditions, especially from the Yoruba and Bantu peoples in West Africa.

But it also includes beliefs from Indigenous South American cultures, such as a deep spiritual connection to nature.

Over time, elements of Catholicism were blended in and that was partly for survival during the era of enslavement in Brazil.

So Candomble brings together many different elements as the tradition came across from West Africa and met the different cultures that it found within Brazil, the Indigenous cultures that were already there, and also being extremely threatened and the Catholicism that was brought by the Portuguese and Spanish as well.

So this blending is what makes Candomble such an interesting and a fascinating spiritual tradition.

Each nation within Candomble will put more or less emphasis on these different influences.

Jun and Izzy discuss different expressions of a Candomble worldview.

Jun says, "Some people reject Catholic influences in Candomble because they view it as a tool of colonialism.

They believe it's important to preserve the African roots of the tradition without Catholic interference." Izzy says, "Others identify as Indigenous Catholics blending both Candomble and Catholicism.

They see their beliefs as intertwined, honouring both traditions as part of their heritage and spiritual identity." So within Candomble you will have lots of different worldviews with people having a different view depending on their relationship to the past and the blend of influences that they have.

Let's check our understanding so far.

I have a true or false question for you here.

Candomble's spiritual practises are equally influenced by Indigenous, Catholic and African traditions across all its nations.

Excellent, that's false, isn't it? And why? Because, as we said, Candomble blends these traditions and influences together of Indigenous Catholic and African, but the emphasis varies depending on a specific nation or branches, groups within Candomble.

What can you see here? To avoid persecution, practitioners gave each Orisha or spirit, divine spirit, the name of a Catholic saint and celebrated them on some feast days, which made their worship appear like Catholic festivals.

They also used music, dance, and prayers in ways that mimics Catholic rituals, allowing them to continue their faith in secret.

Additionally, both religions have the concept of a spiritual protector, either a saint or an Orisha, which made the blending of the two easier and helped Condole survive during a time of oppression and discrimination.

Even today, altars in Candomble temples often include statues or icons alongside traditional Afro-Brazilian religious items. Candles, crosses and rosaries may be used in rituals, reflecting Catholic influences.

So we see a real blending today.

And a specific example of that is St.

George, who is also twinned and linked to the Orisha, Ogum in some Candomble nations, meaning that these traditions are blended together and there is some similarity in the iconography of the two.

St.

George, a dragon-slaying protector, is linked to Ogum, the Orisha of iron, war and courage, because both are seen as brave defenders.

And so this tradition has allowed, has kept being able to go within Catholicism, but has kept its own influences as well.

Let's check our understanding so far.

Why did followers of Candomble adopt elements of Catholicism in their religious practise during enslavement in Brazil? Was it A: to fully convert to Catholicism and leave their original beliefs behind? Was it B: because both religions were officially blended by the church? C: to create an entirely new religion with no ties to African heritage? D: to disguise their traditions within Catholic rituals and protect their ability to practise? Yes, it was D to disguise their traditions within Catholic rituals and protect their ability to practise.

Now, after the end of official slavery, enslavement in 1888, Afro-Brazilian religions like Candomble were still treated as dangerous.

In 1890, a new law made spiritism and magic healing crimes.

This meant that police could raid Candomble temples, destroy sacred objects and stop people from worshipping openly.

Things got even worse during the 1930s and '40s, when the government tried to control religion and stop African traditions.

It wasn't until the 1970s that Candomble followers could practise their faith in public without police permission.

Some stolen sacred items were only returned in 2020 and 2022, after years of campaigning.

Today, even though Candomble is legal, many people still face prejudice and many religious groups continue to call it "evil" or "the devil's work." Specifically, in 2021 some significant stolen Candomble items were returned.

Mae Nilce, then 80 years old, commented, "There's still much to be done.

I hope children learn about religious discrimination.

No one is born with prejudice against any religion.

It's crucial for people to truly understand our faiths." I wonder what you think about this question.

If no one is born with prejudice, where do you think it comes from? And how can learning about other religions help challenge it? It's a really interesting question, isn't it? It's why I'm so passionate about RE and why I think it's really brilliant that you are learning this too.

Because the more we know about each other as human beings and see each other as human beings, the more we realise we are all really quite similar.

And it doesn't matter what we believe or don't believe.

Let's just check our understanding.

What does the history of Candomble and Brazil after 1888 show about religious freedom for Afro-Brazilian communities? A: Candomble was fully accepted after slavery ended and grew rapidly without resistance? B: Candomble was only banned during slavery but accepted soon after abolition? C: Candomble faced legal persecution for decades, with public practise only becoming fully legal in the 1970s? Or D: The Brazilian government protected Candomble from discrimination throughout the 20th century? Excellent.

It's C, isn't it? Okay, so we've learned something about the history of Candomble, about its origins in Africa.

It's bringing across during that terrible period of enslavement to Brazil and its blending together of traditions.

I've got some statements for you here about that history and I would like you to decide if they are true or false.

And if they're false, I'd like you to rewrite the statement to make it correct.

One: Candomble is a branch of Christianity that developed in Brazil.

Two: African, Indigenous and Catholic traditions all influenced the development of Candomble.

Three: During enslavement, Candomble practitioners openly worshipped their gods without fear of punishment.

And four: During the 20th century, after enslavement ended, Candomble was given freedom to be practised openly without restrictions.

Finally, five: Today, Candomble altars often include both traditional African religious items and Catholic symbols like candles, crosses and rosaries reflecting its blended heritage.

Are those true or false? And if they're false, can you correct them? Good luck and I'll see you soon.

Okay, brilliant work, everyone.

What did you come up with? So actually the first statement was not correct because Candomble is its own distinct religion.

It's not a branch of Christianity, although it is blended with Catholicism for many.

It's true that African, Indigenous and Catholic traditions all influenced the development of Candomble.

Statement three was not true.

During enslavement, practitioners had to hide their worship because open practise was forbidden.

Four was also wrong.

Even after enslavement, Candomble faced restrictions and discrimination, and it was only from the 1970s that followers could practise it.

And even today, there is still prejudice.

And five was correct, that Candomble altars often include traditional African religious items and Catholic symbols.

If you manage to get those right and make those corrections, fantastic work.

So in this second part of the lesson, we're going to be looking at some practises of Candomble.

As we've been trying to say all the way through, Candomble is a religion that's focused on lived practises rather than fixed doctrines or beliefs.

And some examples of these are things like the role of female priestesses, the festival of Yemanja, we're going to be looking at that in a bit of detail.

Drumming and dance is really important to Candomble and a sacred connection to nature is absolutely fundamental, reflecting that deep Indigenous spirituality that's influenced it.

Can you see here, I wonder? So in Candomble, we have important priestesses.

The priestess serves the Orishas and holds an important position of spiritual leadership.

Priestesses lead rituals and temples, guide spiritual practises and pass on sacred knowledge from one generation to the next.

Women play a vital role in sustaining the faith, acting as bridges between the community and the divine.

A central responsibility is performing Cowrie shell divination, and you can see an example of that on your screens.

A key practise in which the priestess interprets messages from the Orishas by casting shells and reading the patterns they form.

Through this, she offers guidance on life decisions, personal challenges, and spiritual growth.

Divination connects individuals directly to the spiritual world, helping them understand their place, purpose and path.

You can see an image of two Candomble priestesses there, with necklaces and their dress, and you can see an example of Cowrie shells and the divination.

I wonder what are some things that guide you when you are making important decisions or facing challenges? If you have a big issue in your life or something you're thinking about, where do you go for guidance? What helps you face that challenge or make those decisions? You might want to pause the video and ponder that for yourself or perhaps talk to someone near to you.

Let's just check our understanding so far.

I've got a true or false question for you here.

In Candomble, priestesses preserve the religion by leading rituals, passing on oral traditions and offering spiritual guidance through divination.

Is that true or false? Excellent.

It's true, isn't it? A really important role of women and priestesses within Candomble.

Now, drumming and dance are central to Candomble.

They help worshipers connect with the Orishas.

Many of these rhythms were originally brought from West Africa by enslaved people, and they were actually once banned during enslavement because they encouraged unity and could be used to communicate secretly.

Despite this, the music has endured and it's become a powerful form of resistance and cultural survival.

The rhythms of the drumming in Candomble have also influenced Brazilian music more generally, especially samba, which you probably know is a really famous form of music in Brazil.

I wonder why you think drumming is such a powerful part of Candomble? Each Orisha has a distinct rhythm and dance style.

For example, Ogun's dance is fierce and warlike.

The drumming helps participants focus spiritually and enter a state of connection with the Orisha.

I wonder also why you think that drumming might have been seen as threatening by those in power? I think that idea of unity is really interesting.

The idea that a powerful rhythm can bring people together and in a time when people are enslaved, create a sense of hope and story which would've been threatening to those people who were trying to enslave them, perhaps.

Here you can see two images.

We're going to explore those images a bit more now.

So Yemanja is one of the most important Orishas in Candomble.

She is the Orisha of the ocean, representing the vast, unpredictable power of the sea and its nurturing, cleansing nature.

She is a powerful mother figure.

Yemanja is the protector of women, families, fishermen, and all in need, especially those who are suffering or feel lost.

She's often seen as the spiritual mother of many other Orisha and is closely linked to ideas of fertility, motherhood, and care.

Every year on the 2nd of February, thousands gather on beaches in Bahia, especially in Salvador, to honour her.

Dressed in white and blue, they offer flowers, perfume, and gifts to the sea, seeking protection and guidance.

Some wade into the water to bathe or cleanse themselves spiritually, while others float small boats, carrying offerings out to sea.

Her festival reflects the blended tradition of African and Catholic beliefs, as it also coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of Navigators, which is the title of the Virgin Mary who protects sailors and guides those at sea.

And you can see an image of both Yemanja and Mary as Our Lady of Navigators on your screens and you can probably see some of the symbolism and crossover in terms of colours.

Symbolically, Mary is similar to Yemanja as a maternal protector of the waters.

Both figures are traditionally represented by the colours blue and white, symbolising that maternal role and their connection to water.

I wonder how you think the festival of Yemanja and Our Lady of Navigators shows that blending of worldviews? Let's just check our understanding so far.

Which feature is not shared between Yemanja and Our Lady of Navigators? A: both are associated with the sea and protect those who travel by water? B: both are represented by the colours blue and white? C: both are directly worshipped as Catholic saints? D: both are seen as maternal figures who offer care and protection? Excellent.

It's C, both are not worshipped directly as Catholic saints.

Yemanja is an Orisha within Candomble.

Let's meet Maria.

Maria is a practitioner at Candomble and she explains what it means for her to identify as an Indigenous Catholic.

She says, "My Candomble faith is about connection, to nature, my ancestors and the Orishas.

It's always present, in the rhythm of the waves and calm of the ocean.

Yemanja brings peace and power.

When the sea is restless, I feel her warning; when calm, her care.

Honouring nature is how I honour her.

At the same time, I'm Catholic.

I don't see these identities as opposing, but in conversation.

Both Yemanja and Mary embody strength and compassion.

For me, faith isn't fixed in one tradition.

It flows like water, shaped by the land, history and wisdom passed down through my family." So we could see in what Maria says, that blending of worldviews, that bringing together of Indigenous and Candomble with Catholic.

The bringing together of honouring Yemanja and Mary, but not seeing this as problematic but actually seeing this as, I love this idea as a conversation, as a way of understanding yourself better and understanding the world around you, particularly that connection with nature.

Okay, we've got our final task for you now.

We're thinking particularly about practises of Candomble.

Using your learning, I'd like you to explain how the religion of Candomble was influenced by Christianity during colonisation and enslavement.

How today it continues to shape expressions of Christianity for many people in Brazil and beyond.

I've got some possible sentence starters for you.

You might want to say: "Candomble was influenced by Christianity when.

." What happened? If we can remember that.

"For example, this was shown through.

." Can we think about some of the blending that we've talked about? "Today, Candomble shapes Christianity in Brazil and beyond because.

." "For example, this is shown through.

." You might think about some of the case studies and the festival that we've looked at to really help you.

Brilliant, good luck and I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Fantastic work, everybody.

So you might have said: Candomble was shaped by Christianity, when enslaved Africans had to adapt their beliefs to survive under colonial rule.

For example, this was shown through concealing their Orishas by linking them with Catholic saints so they could continue worshipping them in secret.

You might have talked about Candomble shaping Christianity, Brazil and beyond because many people identify with a blended worldview.

For example, you might have talked about Yemanja's festival where people gather to honour Orishas alongside Catholic saints, showing how these faiths have come together over time.

Brilliant work if you managed to say something about this and you've managed to use some of those lovely images we had.

I hope you've really enjoyed learning about this.

So to summarise, we've been learning all about Candomble.

We've learned that it's an Afro-Brazilian religion and it's rooted in West African traditions and it's shaped by Indigenous beliefs and Catholic influence.

We've learned that it developed as spiritual survival during enslavement, blending Orisha worship with Catholic practises to avoid persecution.

And that today, many Orishas are honoured alongside Catholic saints.

Despite oppression and legal bans, Candomble endured through oral tradition, music and ritual, passed down by revered priestesses.

Through divination, priestesses seek messages from the Orishas to guide people through life's challenges and decisions.

And the faith encourages connection to nature, ancestors, and the divine, embodied in Yemanja, a powerful symbol of care, strength, and protection.

I hope that you've enjoyed learning about this.

I hope it has made you think about the idea of blending in worldviews and how different worldviews can help and enforce and grow.

And also, I wonder what you thought about this idea of that deep connection with nature and whether that's something that you might take away for yourselves.

See you soon.