Candomblé and Brazilian spirituality
I can explain the history of Candomblé and understand some of the ways it is practised.
Candomblé and Brazilian spirituality
I can explain the history of Candomblé and understand some of the ways it is practised.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion, shaped by Indigenous beliefs and Catholic influence.
- It developed as spiritual survival during enslavement, blending Orisha worship with Catholic practices.
- Despite oppression and legal bans, Candomblé endured through oral tradition, music, and ritual.
- Through divination, priestesses seek messages from the Orishas to guide people through life’s challenges and decisions.
- The faith honours connection - to nature, ancestors, and the divine.
Keywords
Ancestors - a family member from the past who has died, believed to offer guidance and protection
Divination - a practice for understanding spiritual guidance and finding one's Orisha
Nation - a branch or denomination within Candomblé
Orishas - a divine ancestor or spirit; intermediaries between humans and the supreme god, Oludumaré
Common misconception
Candomblé always embraces Catholic elements.
Candomblé is an ancient African faith shaped by enslavement. While some include Catholic elements for tradition or protection, many focus purely on African roots. It’s a living, evolving religion adapting to each generation’s needs.
To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Candomblé and Brazilian spirituality, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Candomblé and Brazilian spirituality, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Christianity: how have the experiences of the Global South shaped it? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
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Adult supervision recommended
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to its meaning.
a faith perspective that highlights women’s strength
the ability to recover from difficulty and keep moving forward
continuing to live and push forward despite racism and oppression
Q2.What inspired the term “womanist”?
Q3.What key theme is central to womanist theology?
Q4.What did Delores S. Williams do after becoming a single mother?
Q5.Liberation always means escaping suffering.
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each key word to its correct meaning.
a divine ancestor or spirit that links humans and the divine
a family member from the past who is believed to offer guidance
a practice for understanding spiritual guidance
a branch or denomination within Candomblé