Secrets, Gossip, and Gods: The Transformation of Brazilian CandombléIn this wide-ranging book Paul Christopher Johnson explores the changing, hidden face of the Afro-Brazilian indigenous religion of Candomblé. Despite its importance in Brazilian society, Candomblé has received far less attention than its sister religions Vodou and Santeria. Johnson seeks to fill this void by offering a comprehensive look at the development, beliefs, and practices of Candomblé and exploring its transformation from a secret society of slaves--hidden, persecuted, and marginalized--to a public religion that is very much a part of Brazilian culture. Johnson traces this historical shift and locates the turning point in the creation of Brazilian national identity and a public sphere in the first half of the twentieth century. His major focus is on the ritual practice of secrecy in Candomblé. Like Vodou and Santeria and the African Yoruba religion from which they are descended, Candomblé features a hierarchic series of initiations, with increasing access to secret knowledge at each level. As Johnson shows, the nature and uses of secrecy evolved with the religion. First, secrecy was essential to a society that had to remain hidden from authorities. Later, when Candomblé became known and actively persecuted, its secrecy became a form of resistance as well as an exotic hidden power desired by elites. Finally, as Candomblé became a public religion and a vital part of Brazilian culture, the debate increasingly turned away from the secrets themselves and toward their possessors. It is speech about secrets, and not the content of those secrets, that is now most important in building status, legitimacy and power in Candomblé. Offering many first hand accounts of the rites and rituals of contemporary Candomblé, this book provides insight into this influential but little-studied group, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and society. |
Contents
3 | |
Theoretical Boundaries | 21 |
Historical Layers of Secrecy | 57 |
Secrecy and Ritual Practice | 101 |
How Secrets Become Public | 149 |
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Common terms and phrases
African religions Afro-Brazilian religions Apter arrived authentic axé babalawo Bahia barracão Bastide become boundaries Brazil Brazilian Catholic century chapter circulation claims closed body constructed containment context cool culture dance devotees discourse divination drums ebó Elbein dos Santos elites ethnic Exú force fundamentos head historical human iaô ideal initiate's initiation initiatory Ketu knowledge leaders Mãe meaning Menininha Mother B.'s myth Nagô national identity Odudua Ogum Olorun orisa orixás Orungan Osanyin Oxalá Oxum Paulo police possession practitioners Prandi present prestige priestess priests public Candomblé public space public sphere relation religious Republic reputation revealed Rio de Janeiro Rio's ritual performance ritual practice roncô sacred saints Salvador Santería São Paulo scholars secrecy secret society semiotic Simmel slavery slaves social spatial specific spirits status street structure symbols syncretism terreiro tion traditional Umbanda University Press Vargas Verger Vodou Xangô Yemanjá Yoruba