The Candomble Religion
TRAILER
The religion of Candomblé is practiced by millions in South America, especially in
Brazil. It was imported by slaves from West Africa who used Catholic saints to hide
their own deities.
RUNTIME: 07:47
COUNTRY: BRAZIL
FILMING LOCATION: SALVADOR DE BAHIA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH, PORTUGUESE, FRENCH
SOURCE: A24 MEDIA/REUTERS
SCRIPT
COMMENTARY
Today in Brazil’s north-eastern city Salvador de Bahia, the Catholic Church is
holding a special annual mass that includes elements of both Christianity and
Candomblé, a religion that came to Brazil from Africa hundreds of years ago.
Like Christians, followers of Candomblé believe in one Supreme God, but they also
believe in a large number of lesser deities or spirits known as Orishas, derived from
the Gods of the Yoruba, Angola and Congo people who were brought here as slaves.
The open-air mass is read by the archbishop of Salvador’s most famous Catholic
church – Nosso Senhor do Bonfim – or Our Lord of the End. It brings together
Catholics and followers of Candomblé but is also the biggest Candomblé gathering in
the calendar year.
Father Alvaro is a high priest of the temple of Oxum, a Deity whose name is derived
from the Osun river that flows through the Yoruba region of south-western Nigeria.
ITV, Father ALVARO, Candomble Head Priest (Portuguese)
“It originally came with the slaves and today we continue to worship in the same way,
but they faced a lot of discriminations, many difficulties. They had to hide their
religion behind the Catholic religion from Portugal because black people were not
allowed to develop their own religion. I can show you the statues of Catholic saints to
whom we still pay homage as Candomble saints, because those were the saints behind
which we would hide our own Deities. On the Catholic day of St Anthony, when the
Portuguese would worship St Anthony, our ancestors would worship Ogum. That’s
why there is an overlap. These are really two different religions but the symbols of the
Catholic religion allowed our ancestors to keep paying homage to the Orishas.”
COMMENTARY
Another major difference between Candomblé and Catholicism is that women can
become Candomblé priests and mediums.
ITV, OYASSIA, Candomble Medium and Priestess (Portuguese)
“People of African origin were not allowed access into Catholic churches so the
women of Bahia and the priestesses would remain outside and wash the steps in
homage to Oxala as they were not allowed to enter.”
COMMENTARY
Candomble wasn’t officially legalised until 1985. Now that it’s openly practiced,
some priests would like it to return to its animist roots.
Father Ari has been a Candomble priest in Salvador de Bahia for 40 years.
ITV, FATHER ARI, Candomble Head Priest (Portuguese)
“Here in Bahia, the overlap between the two religions is very strong. But today we
are no longer dependant on this. We no longer need the Catholic religion, this
‘partnership’. Today, the Catholic Church does its work on its own and we practice
our own religion with its African origin.”
COMMENTARY
Father Ari has been to Nigeria to seek the blessing of the Yoruba priests but he
believes that Bahian Candomble is special.
ITV, FATHER ARI, Candomble Head Priest (Portuguese)
“We practice our faith more intensely than our mother Africa. There are certain gods
that they have stopped paying homage to but in Brazil, we have this liberty, we have
this richness with our sacred trees and our rivers. So we have a strong culture, we
worship more deeply than our mother Africa. They have lost the essence. For
example, they no longer pray to the Orisha Ogum.”
COMMENTARY
Before the annual mass, some 2 million people have come together in a joyful
procession. They are dressed in white which is the colour of Oxala, Candomble’s
equivalent of Christ, as well as the symbol of peace.
ITV, GIBA GONÇALVES (French)
“This is a moment when all religions, all peoples, come together to wash the steps of
the church of Bonfim. It’s a moment when we all lay our wish bracelets on the steps of
the church and we ask the Orishas for what they desire. We call this syncretism. It’s a
moment when the Catholic Church comes together with Candomble and associates
the Orishas with the saints of the Catholic Church.”
COMMENTARY
The procession covers a distance of 8 km and takes about 3 hours. Although few
people come to take part from other regions in Brazil, the vast majority of the crowd
are from right here in Bahia.
ITV, MIRIAM FRAZÃO TELES (Portuguese)
“For me, this represents an entire lifetime. Since I was very little I’ve been watching
the procession go by so I’m full of joy. I accept these people who come from many
different places. The Lord of Bonfim blesses us all.”
VOXPOP, Candomble Follower (Portuguese)
“I’ve been a follower of Candomble for 45 years. For me it symbolises many good
things, lovely things, the Orixas, the Caboclos. For us who come from Africa, we
Africans, it is linked to many wonderful things that come from our roots.”
COMMENTARY
After the procession the faithful tie ribbons to the railings of the church, symbolising
prayers to both sets of deities. They receive blessings from Candomble priests and
priestesses in front of the church.
ITV, BETANIA NOVAÏS (Portuguese)
“For each bracelet that we tie, we make three wishes. We usually tie 10 of them. So
we ask for protection, peace and love. These are the most important things, aren’t
they? You can pray to Oxala, He is the equivalent to the Lord of Bonfim or Christ in
Catholicism. But each person also prays to his patron Deity or saint because all the
Orishas have the power to protect.”
VOXPOP, MALE (Portuguese/Subtitled)
“In the name of Iemanja, in the name of God, in the name of Ogun.”
COMMENTARY
Candomblé has had to adapt over the centuries, something that’s made it a very
inclusive religion with cultural elements from all over the world; it even includes
aspects of Islam because some of the slaves who brought it were Muslim.
And for the millions who follow it, there’s no better way to celebrate life, give thanks
to its Creator – and pray for divine protection.
SHOTLIST
SALVADOR DE BAHIA, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)
1. VARIOUS CROWD IN FRONT OF CHURCH SINGING
2. LADIES IN WHITE HOLDING WHITE VASES WHILE SINGING
3. CLOSE OF LADIES FACES
4. VARIOUS OF CROWD
5. ARCHBISHOP OF SALVADOR READING MASS OUT OF CHURCH
WINDOW
6. CROWD OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE CHURCH SINGING
7. (UPSOUND) (Portuguese) ARCHBISHOP OF SALVADOR SAYING:
“Glory to you in your holy greatness you are the eternal light. You are the guide.”
8. FATHER ALVARO WALKING ACROSS ROOM TO SWITCH ON FAN
9. DEITY
10. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CANDOMBLE HEAD PRIEST, FATHER
ALVARO, SAYING:
“It originally came with the slaves and today we continue to worship in the same
way, but they faced a lot of discriminations, many difficulties. They had to hide their
religion behind the Catholic religion from Portugal because black people were not
allowed to develop their own religion. I can show you the statues of Catholic saints to
whom we still pay homage as Candomble saints, because those were the saints behind
which we would hide our own Deities. On the Catholic day of St Anthony, when the
Portuguese would worship St Anthony, our ancestors would worship Ogum. That’s
why there is an overlap. These are really two different religions but the symbols of the
Catholic religion allowed our ancestors to keep paying homage to the Orishas.”
11. VARIOUS STATUES AND IMAGES OF DEITIES
12. FATHER ALVARO WITH OTHER CANDOMBLE OFFICIALS
13. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CANDOMBLE MEDIUM AND PRIESTESS,
OYASSIA, SAYING:
“People of African origin were not allowed access into Catholic churches so the
women of Bahia and the priestesses would remain outside and wash the steps in
homage to Oxala as they were not allowed to enter.”
14. VARIOUS OF MEN AND WOMEN DANCING AND SINGING
15. WOMEN PERFORMING RITUAL INFRONT OF FATHER ARI WHO IS
SEATED
16. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CANDOMBLE HEAD PRIEST, FATHER ARI
SAYING:
“Here in Bahia, the overlap between the two religions is very strong. But today we
are no longer dependant on this. We no longer need the Catholic religion, this
‘partnership’. Today, the Catholic Church does its work on its own and we practice
our own religion with its African origin.”
17. VARIOUS OF CANDOMBLE FOLLOWERS DANCING AND SINGING IN
TEMPLE
18. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CANDOMBLE HEAD PRIEST, FATHER ARI
SAYING:
“We practice our faith more intensely than our mother Africa. There are certain
gods that they have stopped paying homage to but in Brazil, we have this liberty, we
have this richness with our sacred trees and our rivers. So we have a strong culture,
we worship more deeply than our mother Africa. They have lost the essence. For
example, they no longer pray to the Orisha Ogum.”
19. PROCESSION IN THE STREETS
20. DRUMMERS IN PROCESSION
21. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN WHITE DANCING IN THE STREET
PROCESSION
22. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CANDOMBLE FOLLOWER, GIBA GONÇALVES
SAYING:
“This is a moment when all religions, all peoples, come together to wash the steps
of the church of Bonfim. It’s a moment when we all lay our wish bracelets on the
steps of the church and we ask the Orishas for what they desire. We call this
syncretism. It’s a moment when the Catholic Church comes together with Candomble
and associates the Orishas with the saints of the Catholic Church.”
23. VARIOUS OF THE PROCESSION
24. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SALVADOR DE BAHIA RESIDENT, MIRIAM
FRAZÃO TELES SAYING:
“For me, this represents an entire lifetime. Since I was very little I’ve been
watching the procession go by so I’m full of joy. I accept these people who come
from many different places. The Lord of Bonfim blesses us all.”
25. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED CANDOMBLE FOLLOWER,
SAYING:
“I’ve been a follower of Candomble for 45 years. For me it symbolises many good
things, lovely things, the Orixas, the Caboclos. For us who come from Africa, we
Africans, it is linked to many wonderful things that come from our roots.”
26. PEOPLE TYING RIBBONS ON THE GATE OF THE CHURCH
27. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CANDOMBLE FOLLOWER BETANIA NOVAÏS
SAYING:
“For each bracelet that we tie, we make three wishes. We usually tie 10 of them. So
we ask for protection, peace and love. These are the most important things, aren’t
they? You can pray to Oxala, He is the equivalent to the Lord of Bonfim or Christ in
Catholicism. But each person also prays to his patron Deity or saint because all the
Orishas have the power to protect.”
28. (UPSOUND) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING:
“In the name of Iemanja, in the name of God, in the name of Ogun.”
29. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BEING BLESSED WITH FLOWERS AND WATER
END