Organised by the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)
Speakers: Sariza Oliveira Caetano Venâncio (Universidade Federal do Norte do Tocantins, Brazil); Valdeci Pereira Reis
A religião dos encantados como mediadora cultural no norte do Tocantins
Historicamente, o norte do Tocantins recebeu muitos migrantes de estados vizinhos, como Pará e Maranhão, especialmente após a criação do Tocantins em 1988. Nessas localidades, desenvolveram-se religiões afro-indígenas como o Terecô, o Tambor de Mina e a Pajelança, caracterizadas pela presença significativa dos encantados. Na cidade de Araguaína, diversos elementos culturais desses estados vizinhos são evidentes. No que diz respeito à afro-religiosidade, podemos encontrar em Araguaína entidades como os encantados, que se diferenciam dos espíritos do panteão da Umbanda. Diferentemente dos espíritos da Umbanda, os encantados são considerados seres que transitaram para o plano espiritual sem terem passado pela morte. Com base em 13 anos de pesquisa etnográfica realizada na Tenda Espírita Umbandista Santa Joana d’Arc, proponho que os encantados atuam como mediadores culturais entre as religiões afro-indígenas em Araguaína. Sua presença, tanto nos rituais cotidianos quanto na vida do líder do terreiro, é crucial para compreender a afro-religiosidade na região. Além disso, eles ajudam a explicar como a Umbanda foi recebida quando chegou à cidade em meados da década de 1970, trazida por um agente da Federação Umbandista do Brasil, situada em Brasília. No entanto, relatos indicam que, já no início da década de 1950, duas pessoas praticavam uma forma distinta de rituais afro-brasileiros na região.
Dra Venâncio vai apresentar junto com Valdeci Pereira Reis, lider da Tenda Espírita Umbandista Santa Joana d’Arc e co-autora (com Dr Sariza Oliveira Caetano Venancio) do livro ‘Lá vem ela Joana d’Arc e já estava guerreando’. Esse seminário será apresentado em português, com slides em inglês.
Este seminário é organizado em colaboração com o Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos Culturais e Territoriais da Universidade Federal do Norte do Tocantins, Brasil.
The religion of the enchanteds as cultural mediators in the north of Tocantins
Historically, the north of Tocantins has had many migrants from neighbouring states such as Pará and Maranhão, especially after Tocantins was established in 1988. In these localities, Afro-Indigenous religions like Terecô, Tambor de Mina, and Pajelança developed, characterized by the significant presence of the enchanteds. In the city of Araguaína, various cultural elements from these neighboring states are evident. Concerning afro-religiousness, we may find entities in Araguaína, such as the enchanteds, which differ from the spirits in Umbanda’s pantheon. Unlike Umbanda spirits, the enchanteds are believed to have transitioned to the spiritual plane without experiencing death. Based on 13 years of ethnographic research conducted at the Tenda Espírita Umbandista Santa Joana d’Arc, I propose that the enchanteds serve as cultural mediators among Afro-Indigenous religions in Araguaína. Their presence, in daily rituals and in the life of the terreiro’s leader, is crucial for understanding Afro-religiousness in this region. Additionally, they help explain how Umbanda was received when it arrived in the mid-1970s, brought by an agent of the Umbanda Federation of Brazil situated in Brasília. However, reports indicate that two individuals were already practicing a different form of Afro-Brazilian religious ritual in the area in the early 1950s.
Dr Venâncio will deliver this seminar together with Valdeci Pereira Reis, Afro-Brazilian religious leader and coordinator of the Santa Joana d’Arc Umbanda group, and co-author (with Dr Sariza Oliveira Caetano Venancio) of the book ‘Lá vem ela Joana d’Arc e já estava guerreando’. The seminar will be presented in Portuguese, with English-language slides.
This seminar is co-hosted with the Postgraduate Programme in Cultural and Territorial Studies at the Federal University of the North of Tocantins, Brazil.
All are welcome to attend this free seminar, which will be held online via Zoom at 17:00 GMT (UK time). You will need to register in advance to receive the online joining link. Please click on the Book Now button at the top of the page to register.
Programme 2024/25
Autumn Term
24 October
21 November
11 December
Winter Term
23 January
20 February
20 March
The Latin American and Caribbean Ethnography Seminar (LACES) is a forum in which scholars who conduct ethnographic research in Latin America and the Caribbean can present their work and get feedback in a collaborative environment, as well as build connections between researchers and departments.
The Seminar is currently hosted by the ILCS Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CRoLAC) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and the Rule of Law (CISRUL) at the University of Aberdeen and the Institute of Literature, Language and Anthropology at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
It is convened by Jessica Sklair (QMUL), Denisse Román-Burgos (CSIC & University of Aberdeen) and Ainhoa Montoya (SAS & CSIC).
Please consider supporting CLACS's mission to train the next generation of scholars in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: https://ilcs.sas.ac.uk/research-centres/centre-latin-american-caribbean-studies-clacs/support-clacs