Spirit possession and cultural innovation: the case of two Japanese female religious leaders

Jorge Amado, a celebrated Brazilian writer, popularized the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé through his novels, shaping widespread perceptions of the faith as practiced in Bahia. Although Amado presents himself as an atheist, he champions the syncretism between Catholic and Afro-Brazilian rites. His literary interpretation of Candomblé's symbolic system is not ethnographic but merits anthropological study. This paper examines Amado's treatment of Catholic and Afro-Brazilian syncretism in his novels *Tenda dos milagres* and *O sumiço da santa*.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Jorge Amado, one of lhe most renowned brazilian writers, has in many of his novels focused thc afrobrazilian cult named candomblé, as it is practised in Bahia. We can say that a great deal of the more generalized ideas about bahian candomblé owe to Amado's novels their world widespread diffusion. But of course Amado's presentation of this cult is not a documentary, ethnographic report. His literary interpretation of candomblé symbolic system deserves anthopological consideration; particulary Amado's personal envolvement with lhe candomblé's world is to be studied from an anthropological point of view: though he defines himself as an atheist, Amado has taken a firm stand as a champion of the synchretim between catholic and afrobrazilian rites. This paper deals with Amado's treatment of catholic and afrobrazilian synchretism in his novels Tenda dos milagres and O sumiço da santa.