Spirit possession and cultural innovation: the case of two Japanese female religious leaders
Ordep J. Trindade-Serra Trindade-Serra
Revista de Antropologia July 3, 2020 DOI: 10.11606/2179-0892.ra.1995.111439 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Afro-brazilian cults Jorge amado Synchretism Symbolic anthropology. |
| Key points | Argues that Jorge Amado's literary interpretation of Candomblé, despite his atheism, promoted Catholic-Afro-Brazilian syncretism and influenced global perceptions of Bahian Candomblé. |
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.