Batala Washington members were interviewed for this episode of Interfaith Voices, a national public radio program about faith and social justice.
The theme for the episode is about Brazil’s changing religious landscape as Pentacostalism continues to grow beyond traditional Catholicism and become more contentious against Afro-Brazilian religions (Candomble, Umbanda, Macumba).
The last section of the episode features Batala Washington.
In the terreiro (places of worship in Candomblé), a xirê (which means circle and pronounced ‘shee-RAY’) is a dance ceremony (usually open to the public) that is held to invoke the orixás as a part of Candomblé ritual. The initiated dance for the orixás and the orixás enter and dance through the bodies of the initiates through trance. When the orixá manifests through the initiate, the initiate is dressed elaborately in full regalia as the orixá. The orixá is returned to the public circle and continues to dance while others cheer, sing, and greet the orixá. The orixá may offer advice and healing to many people that are in attendance.
Each orixá has its own dance movements, greetings, songs, and drum rhythms, many of which are showcased in non-religious performances, and even Afro-Brazilian dance classes, and other folkloric events. In the video below, Balé folclórico da Bahia performs dances for Ogum, Oxum, Obaluayê, Iansã (Oya), Oxossi, and Oxalá (Obatala) respectively.
Mulheres de Axé (Women of Axé) is a short documentary–with English subtitles–about the Bahian women of Candomblé and their roles in leading the community, keeping their culture alive, and being at the forefront of the struggle against religious intolerance and discrimination from evangelicals. The video features many of the same women featured in another documentary called Cidade das Mulheres (City of Women) which goes deeper into the exploration of the topic of race and gender and reveals Afro-Bahian women as leaders, cultural sustainers, and the heart and soul of Salvador.
In Candomblé and Umbanda, Exú is the orixá that serves as the messenger between humankind and the orixás. When offerings are made to the orixás, Exú receives his first so that he may deliver the axé of the offerings and messages to the other orixás for them to receive and accept it. Therefore, he is always honored first in any ritual or ceremony. Exú is the opener of doors (opportunities) and owns the crossroads. He is the spiritual energy of communication, choices, as well as cause and effect. Though he is seen as playful and childlike, he also delivers justice to those who choose the wrong path and don’t offer sacrifice for their blessings, therefore called a trickster. Yet, he is good to those who are good to him and remember their obligations to God (Olodumarê) and the orixás. In Brazil, you will commonly find plates of food and candles left in the streets at crossroads. These are offerings to Exú as a petition to open the way for blessings and prosperity.
Salutation: LAROYE!
colors: red and black
Weekday: Monday
Food: Yam, yellow corn flour Pade with palm oil
Symbols: Erect phallus
Elements: Earth and Fire
Domains: pathways, crossings, doorways.
Day: August 24
Syncretism: St. Anthony or Archangel Gabriel
