The practitioners of Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian Candomble and Umbanda faiths were singing, playing drums, and dancing around the large statue, during the traditional New Year tribute.
People were mostly dressed in white, some prayed and others were blessed by the “babalorixas” (male priest) and “yalorixas” (female priest) attending the ceremony.
Later, they launched their offerings to the sea, many carried in small boats with flowers, and bowls with candles, fruits, perfume and some drinks.The organisers said this year the lack of support and resources – normally received from the government of the city – made the celebration more challenging.
“We did not receive any support from the government (Rio’s city hall) or from any other public organisation, and that was not the promise when the bishop (the mayor of Rio, evangelical bishop Marcelo Crivella) took power,” said Mirian de Oia, one of the organisers.
Hundreds of worshippers from the Candomble and Umbanda religions attended the ceremony to thank Yemanja for 2018 and to ask for success, health and employment in 2019.
Candomble was brought to Brazil by West African slaves at the beginning of the 19th century. Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African traditions with Roman Catholicism and indigenous American beliefs.
