The batuque (also called Africanism , the nation of saint and the nation of Orixá ) is one of the Afro-Brazilian religions that spread throughout much of Latin America . [1]
The batuque.
Batuque is an Afro-Brazilian religion that originated in the region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is also known as Batuque de Terreiro or Candomblé de Batuque. Here are some key facts about the Batuque religion:
- Origins: Batuque traces its roots to the Bantu people of West Africa who were brought to Brazil during the transatlantic slave trade. The religion emerged as a syncretic blend of African religious beliefs and practices with elements of Catholicism.
- Worship: Batuque is centered around the veneration of ancestral spirits and deities known as orixás. These orixás are believed to embody natural forces and elements, such as water, thunder, wind, and fire. Worship ceremonies are held in terreiros (ritual spaces) where participants gather to sing, dance, drum, and offer offerings to the orixás.
- Orixás: There are numerous orixás in Batuque, each associated with specific aspects of life and nature. Some prominent orixás include Exu (the messenger and guardian of crossroads), Oxalá (the father of all orixás), Iemanjá (the goddess of the sea), and Xangô (the god of justice and thunder). Each orixá has its own characteristics, preferences, and rituals.
- Rituals and Practices: Batuque rituals involve music, drumming, dance, and possession trance. Participants often wear white clothing and engage in specific dances associated with each orixá. Offerings such as fruits, flowers, and candles are presented to the orixás to seek their blessings and guidance. Divination practices, involving the use of cowrie shells or cards, may also be employed to communicate with spirits and receive guidance.
- Syncretism: Batuque exhibits strong syncretic elements, blending African religious traditions with Catholicism. Many orixás are associated with Catholic saints, allowing practitioners to worship their ancestral deities while outwardly appearing to be practicing Catholicism.
- Spread and Recognition: Batuque was traditionally practiced in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, but it has spread to other parts of the country, particularly in urban areas. It gained legal recognition as a religion in Brazil in 2007, granting it protection and acknowledgment by the government.
It’s important to note that religious practices can vary among different Batuque communities and regions. The information provided here represents a general overview of the Batuque religion, but specific practices and beliefs may differ between terreiros and individual practitioners.
Summary
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- 1 Origin
- 2 Description
- 3 Nations
- 4 The cult of the egún
- 5 Another cult
- 6 References
- 7 Sources
Origin
The batuque is the result of the religions of the peoples of the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria , practiced by the nations
The batuque descends from several African ethnic groups:
* Yoruba (largely),* Change or change,* Fon (known as yeyé, in Portuguese hehe / yeyé /),* Iyejá,* Nagó or nagô,* Heard or heard.
Description
The batuque adapts some elements of the Candomblé (costumes, legends, etc.) due, in large part, to the fact that many practitioners of the batuque descend from a religious family with candomblecist currents.
Basically it is a monotheistic religion that believes in a single god (called by various names, such as Oloddumare and Olorum ), who is worshiped through the orixás (messenger energies between men and God, intercessors on behalf of both) each orixá a quality, natural element, passage, and other characteristics of itself. [2]
Nations
Then there are some differences between the different lineages within the batuque, which are called “nations”, because despite the fact that the batuque has many nagó and yeye influences, some slaves managed to keep alive some of their differential rites from other nations (such as the holding the bale , [1] for example).
This gave rise to the existence of “nations” within the batuque, such as:
- jejé or jeje-nagó: in this modality orixás is worshiped, it is one of the most widespread batuque nations.
- ijexá or ijèsá (/ iyejá /): this modality was influenced by the ijexas, keeping some of their rites alive to this day.
- oió: characteristic of a cult with egum balé, an element typical of the cabinda and heard them. The cult takes many traditions from the tribe heard.
- cabinda : This modality is characterized by the cult of Xango Kamuka, which is typical of this nation, its greatest exponent being Don Valdemar of Xango Kamuka.
The cult of the egún
In the batuque there is also the cult of the egún, which is done through the balè, a little house that is separated from the rest of the buildings and is generally located at the bottom of the land or on the front next to the house of Bara Lode and Ogun Avagan, the warriors who are in charge of caring for and protecting the Batuque houses.
Another cult
Another type of cult closely related to the batuque is the Northeast xangó , also with Yeyé-nagó roots.
