- Hardcover: 238 pages
- Publisher: OUP USA (29 Aug 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0195150589
- ISBN-13: 978-0195150582
- Product Dimensions: 24.1 x 16.8 x 2.2 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,440,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Johnson rightly observes that the contemporary meaning and experience of Candomble must come to terms with the widening of the religion from a regional base into a national (and international) status. Significant numbers of non-Afro Brazilian participants are joining and leading terreiro communities and influencing the interpretation and experience of the religion in important ways. Once secret signs and symbols are rapidly moving into the general culture discourse of the Brazilian public sphere, Johnson's book successfully urges us toward this acknowledgement.
Product Description
In this wide-ranging book Paul C Johnson explores the changing, hidden face of the Afro-Brazilian indigenous religion of Candomble. Despite its inportance in Brazilian Society, Candomble has received far less attention than its sister religions Vodou and Santeria. Johnson seeks to fill this void by offering a comprehensive look at the development, beliefs, and practices of Candomble and exploring its transformation from a secret society of slaves - hidden, persecuted, and marginalized - to a public religion that is very much part of Brazilian culture. Johnson traces this historical shift and locates the turning point in the creation of a Brazilian public sphere and national identity in the first half of the twentieth century. His major focus is on the ritual practice of secrecy in Candomble. Like Vodou and Santeria and the African Yoruba religion from which they are decended, Candomble features a hierarchic series if initiations, with increasing access to secret knowledge at each level. As Johnson shows, the nature and uses of secrecy evolved with the religion. First, secrecy was essential to a society that had to remain hidden from the authorities. Later, when Candomble became known and activily persecuted its secrecy became a form of resistance as well as an exotic hidden power desired by elites. Finally, as Candomble became a public relirion and a vital part of Brazilian culture, the debate increasingly turned away from the secrets themselves and towards their possessors. It is speech about secrets, and not about the content of those secrets, that is now most important in building status, legitimacy and power in Candomble. Offering many first hand accounts of the rites and rituals of contemporary Candomble, this book provides insight into this influential but little studied group, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and society.
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First Sentence
Early in my fieldwork I was sharing a table at a street cafe with two "elder" initiates (ebomi) and risked a fairly theological question about sacrifice, the orixas, and the problem of human death. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Early in my fieldwork I was sharing a table at a street cafe with two "elder" initiates (ebomi) and risked a fairly theological question about sacrifice, the orixas, and the problem of human death. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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5 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful addition to any library!!!
24 Feb 2003
Format:Hardcover
One of the best books that I could find in English on Candomble.
The book is an amazing piece of scholastic work conducted by a once relectant initiate of Nago-Ketu Nation and surveys the history, practices, theology, ritualism and cosmology of Candomble and the role of the Terreiro in historical and contemporary Brazilian society.
There are many things that I had issues with.....the title of the book being one of them.....but by far, it is the most substantial piece of work that has been published in English targeted in a non-sensationalist way for the non-brazilian public.
This thought provoking piece of work has led me to look internally and externally for answers to questions raised in this forum, and has also allowed me to formulate my own questions......
In any case, the book is worth adding to any library and especially of value to those individuals interested in African Based Diasporic religion/spirituality in Brazil.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Good but dense
18 Dec 2003
Format:Hardcover
This book represents a significant and thought provoking review of the history and social context of Candomble. I recommend it highly to any one who is already rather versed in the subject. It is not, however, written in language that is widely accessible to the average reader. Any college professors out there should think twice or thrice before assigning it to undergraduates, unless you wish to assign a dictionary as well! It is too densely written for the average person, something I consider a real crime in a book that is otherwise very good.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Secrets, Gossip, and Gods Review
17 Sep 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although this book did include some worthy information on the Candomble subject, it entirety contained numerous lengthy definitions of what exactly a secret is, rather explore the subject any deeper. I personally was very disappointed with this author, gilding his lack of information contained in this book with an extensive vocabulary.
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