“CURANDEIRAS... ERAM TUDO NEGRAS. NEGRAS! VIRGEM NOSSA SENHORA”: crenças e conflitos culturais nas encruzilhadas da cura. Santo Antonio de Jesus. Recôncavo Sul. Bahia (1940-1980)
“CURANDEIRAS... ERAM TUDO NEGRAS. NEGRAS! VIRGEM NOSSA SENHORA”: crenças e conflitos culturais nas encruzilhadas da cura. Santo Antonio de Jesus. Recôncavo Sul. Bahia (1940-1980)
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3462407085
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Palavras-chave: Curandeiras/os; Recôncavo; Crenças; Conflitos culturais; Práticas ancestrais.
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Keywords: Healers; Recôncavo; Beliefs; Cultural conflicts; Ancestral practices.
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Abstract: This article aims to analyze aspects related to ancestral healing practices carried out by healers, healers, healers, prayer healers, midwives, psychics, among others here called healers and healers, in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Jesus, located in the southern region of Recôncavo from Bahia. It is interesting to understand the different healing practices as survivals of traditions resulting from the cultural overlap of varied knowledge, especially that originating from black populations. However, despite its importance, it will be possible to identify that in the 20th century, many healing and sacred practices performed by healers were targets of demonic and derogatory ideas and speeches. Such discourses were originally disseminated in the process of colonization of America and, later, Africa by Europeans. In Brazil, for example, ancestral cultural practices of African origins were commonly categorized by Catholic Christianity as backward, savage, uncultured, pagan, and consequently diabolical practices. In this text, I discuss, specifically, how the fears, stereotypes, prejudices and racist views about the conceptions and healing practices exercised by healers and healers of Recôncavo in the 20th century, were transferred to the collective imagination associated with harmful and dark practices – such as of “black magic”, spread throughout the Christian and Western world. However, it will be observed that if many sacred and health practices, especially those carried out by black men and women, are considered effective, the knowledge and wisdom of healers must be taken into account since many believers were healed and guided, not by “black magic”, but by the sacred force of black magic.
- DENILSON LESSA DOS SANTOS