Obínrín Odara: o ativismo político afro-religioso das mulheres de Umbanda e Candomblé do Ceará

Abstract

This study constitutes a discussion that aims to understand how the processes os Afrodescendant and activist identity construction for women of religion of African origin, who are organized in the Social Movements from the Working Gruoup (GT) Women of Axé-Saravá of the National Network of Afro-Brazilian Religions and Health (RENAFRO), are elaborated in Ceará. The choice for the deepening of the theme is justified by the fact that African-born religionsare instruments of political reflection on education and ethnic-racial relations in Brazil. In order to reach the goal established in this study, methodologically, the Afrodescendent research reference was chosen, since this is a procedure that elects the black population as knowledge producer. In this contexto, the general coordinator of RENAFRO in Ceará, the coordinators of the Women’s Working Groups in Rio de Janeiro and Ceará, respectively, were interviewed, as well as three women who joined th Working Group in the city of Fortaleza. From the interviewes account, I consider that the Afrodescendent and activist identity construction of the candomblecist and/or umbandista woman does not tak place in a uniform way, although it presentes some common elements, generally resulting from the need to strengthen oneself and those who follow them in their trajectories, starting from a combative position in front of the numerous expressions of religious racismo. Considering the reports collected, it is possible to understand that the practices of African-born religions provide, in their sacred spaces, the development of educational processes that can be considered significant both for the political identity construction of Afro-Brazilian women and for the elaboration of new parameters of social movements and, consequently, of pedagogical movements. In conclusion, it is understood that the African-born religions, as well as the Working Group Women of Axé-Saravá, provide the development of significant educational processes for the construction of afrodescendente and activist feminine identity, since it allows the elaboration of new parameters for the Social Movements, strengthening the hope that the women of axé can occupy all spaces and live without fear.