Communities reclaim religious freedom during Brazil’s Independence Day
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On Brazil’s Independence Day, people from Candomblé and Umbanda communities occupied W3 South Avenue in Brasília to demand religious freedom and challenge prejudice.
The second edition of Caminhos de Exu, a celebration of ancestrality and resistance to religious racism, brought together artists, families, and practitioners of Afro-Brazilian religions. Participants questioned whose independence is celebrated when prejudice against their faith persists.
Taina Ramos, a producer with Caminhos de Exu, explained the event offered a chance to showcase their culture to those unfamiliar with it and to affirm their right to exist and worship without discrimination. Davi Amado, an event participant, said the occupation allowed them to publicly express a spirituality often kept private. Pai Antônio, director of Centro Espírita ECIC Perambranca and secretary of Federação Irapuru, stated that initiatives like Caminhos de Exu are vital for combating prejudice.
Mãe Baiana emphasized the importance of Exu, a central figure in Afro-Brazilian traditions, as a symbol of communication and connection to ancestry. The event featured music, dance, and a fair, creating a space for people of different ages and traditions to connect and celebrate their heritage.
