Knowra Umbanda Umbanda Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that combines African traditions, Spiritism, Catholicism, and Indigenous beliefs. Its rituals center on spirit communication, guidance, and healing.
Orixás : Deities or divine forces central to Yoruba-derived religions and influential in many Afro-Brazilian traditions. Umbanda associates spiritual lines and ritual work with orixás, though their role varies among its branches.
Gira (Umbanda) : A public Umbanda ceremony involving prayer, music, spirit incorporation, and spiritual service. The gira is the main ritual setting in which Umbanda’s spirit communication takes place.
Zélio Fernandino de Moraes : A Brazilian figure traditionally credited with founding Umbanda in the early twentieth century. Umbanda’s commonly told origin story centers on Moraes and the spirit Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas.
Quimbanda : A Brazilian religious tradition associated particularly with Exu spirits and ritual work at crossroads. Quimbanda is sometimes practiced alongside Umbanda but has distinct emphases and is not simply its darker counterpart.
Religious syncretism in Brazil : The blending and negotiation of religious traditions within Brazil’s diverse cultural history. Umbanda is a prominent example, though its elements are combined differently across communities.
Caboclo : A spirit in Umbanda represented as an Indigenous Brazilian figure, often associated with strength, knowledge, and healing. Caboclos are among the principal spirit guides who communicate in Umbanda ceremonies.
Mediumship : The claimed ability to communicate with spirits or convey their presence through a living person. Umbanda treats trained mediumship as a disciplined capacity exercised in ritual.
Kardecism : The Brazilian form of Spiritism derived from the teachings of French educator Allan Kardec. Kardecist ideas about spirits, moral progress, and charity helped shape Umbanda’s religious vocabulary.
Candomblé de Angola : A Candomblé tradition shaped by Central African religious heritage and Bantu languages and practices. Its ritual lineage differs from Umbanda’s more eclectic formation and characteristic spirit-guide work.
Religious intolerance in Brazil : Hostility or discrimination directed at religious groups and practices within Brazilian society. Umbanda communities have faced stigma and attacks, often alongside prejudice against Afro-Brazilian religions.
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