Sisters of the Good Death

alfredodamato
16 years ago
- Stories

For nearly two hundred years, a small group of women in the town of Cachoeira have joined together in a sisterhood that celebrates freedom from slavery, women’s resistance and Afro-Brazilian culture. Irmandade da Boa Morte – Sisterhood of the Good Death – started life as a bank in 1823, founded by freed slaves to finance the freedom of men, women and children still bonded by slavery.

The community, which is still made up of the descendants of slaves, practices a syncretised worship that combines the Afro-Brazilian Candomble religion with elements from Catholicism and Islam. Thanks to their microcredit scheme and the two hundred religious events they organise throughout the year, the Sisterhood have achieved a central role in regional society, preserving some of the traditional African values that slavery brought to Brazil.

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Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. Three Irmanas (Sisters) stand at the entrance to the seat of the Irmandade da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. A faded mural of Oxissa - the god (orixa) of the hunters in the Candomble religion.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. 65 year old Irmana Agda has been a member of the Irmandada da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death) for 13 years.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. The statue of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte (Our Lady of the Good Death). Every year in August the Saint is carried in a procession by the Irmanas (Sisters) during the festival that celebrates the anniversary of the foundation of the Irmandada da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. 70 year old Irmana Adelaide has been a member of the Irmandada da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death) for the last 10 years.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. The sacred tree and pots outside a Candomble Terreiro (Temple) for the specific celebration of the orixa (god) Oxumare, serpent-god of the rain and the rainbow. Oxumare, or Osumare, is also the divinity of the feminine and masculine nature, who has the power to transport the water into the sky and the hearth.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. 70 year old Irmana Joselita (front) has been a member of the Irmandada da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death) for 18 years.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. A mural of the Candomble orixa (god) Yemaja. She is the Mother Goddess of the Candomble religion; she is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a protector of children.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. A Terreiro (Temple) for the branch, or nation (nacoe), of Candomble known as Candomble do Caboclo. The term Caboclo, aside from being a term to describe a person of mixed Brazilian Amerindian and European descent, is also used as an alternate term for certain orixas (gods) of the Candomble religion.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. A Candomble altar in the house of Mai Filinha, the Perpetual Judge (eldest member) of the Irmandade da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. Filhas do Santo (Children of the Saint) welcome Mai Maddalena, the leader of their group, at the beginning of a Candomble ceremony.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. 70 year old Irmana Joselita has been a member of the Irmandada da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death) for 18 years.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. The five basic elements; water, fire, earth, wind and peace are written on the floor of a Candomble Terreiro (Temple).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. Two woman help each other with their head scarfs at a Candomble Terreiro (Temple).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. 105 year old Mai Filinha, the Perpetual Judge (eldest member) of the Irmandade da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death).

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. Worshippers from the branch, or nation (nacoe), of Candomble known as Candomble do Caboclo. The term Caboclo, aside from being a term to describe a person of mixed Brazilian Amerindian and European descent, is also used as an alternate term for certan orixas (gods) of the Candomble religion. The caboclo, that can be seen here on the truck, is also an orixa.

Brazil, Cachoeira, Salvador da Bahia. An altar made to honour the orixa (god) of the branch, or nation (nacoe), of Candomble known as Candomble do Caboclo. The term Caboclo, aside from being a term to describe a person of mixed Brazilian Amerindian and European descent, is also used as an alternate term for certain orixas (gods) of the Candomble religion.