Candomblé at a glance

Candomblé at a glance

Candomblé is a religion based on African beliefs which is particularly popular in Brazil. It is also practised in other countries, and has as many as two million followers.

• The religion is a mixture of traditional Yoruba, Fon and Bantu beliefs which originated from different regions in Africa. It has also incorporated some aspects of the Catholic faith over time.
• A religion which combines elements of many religions is called a syncretic religion.
• Enslaved Africans brought their beliefs with them when they were shipped to Brazil during the slave trade.
• The name Candomblé means 'dance in honour of the gods'.
• Practitioners of Candomblé believe in one all powerful God called Oludumaré who is served by lesser deities. These deities are called orixas. (They can also be called voduns and inkices.)
• Candomblé practitioners believe that every person has their own individual orixa which controls his or her destiny and acts as a protector.
• Music and dance are important parts of Candomblé ceremonies. Specially choreographed dances are performed by worshippers to enable them to become possessed by the orixas.
• There is no concept of good or bad in Candomblé. Each person is only required to fulfil his or her destiny to the fullest, regardless of what that is.
• Candomblé is an oral tradition and therefore has no holy scriptures.
• The first official temple was founded at the beginning of the 19th century in Salvador, Bahia in Brazil.

Find out more

• Candomblé in pictures
• Slavery