“Asking for Vovó Cici’s blessing was a gift,” declared Professor Djamila Ribeiro, visibly moved after meeting the ègbomi of Ilê Axé Opô Aganjú, Nancy de Souza e Silva—better known as Vovó Cici (Grandma Cici) de Oxalá—during the Mulheres Negras em Movimento (Black Women in Movement) event in Salvador on July 28.

The Brazilian storyteller and Candomblé leader took part in a panel right after the Brazilian philosopher and made a point of blessing her with a prayer. The gesture deeply touched Djamila: “As a woman who writes about orixás, Vovó Cici is a great source of inspiration and knowledge. I am immensely grateful for this moment,” wrote the professor on her social media.

Vovó Cici’s presence on stage and in the audience symbolized the strength of ancestral knowledge carried by Black women. At 82, the Yoruba tradition master and researcher at the Pierre Verger Foundation is recognized for her work in preserving Afro-Brazilian oral traditions and safeguarding the cultural memory of the povo de santo.

Initiated into Oxalá in 1972, Vovó Cici was once the direct assistant of ethnologist Pierre Verger and is the author of the book Cozinhando Histórias (Cooking Stories), which combines recipes, myths and memories of Candomblé. In 2022, she was awarded the title of Citizen of Salvador by the City Council.

The meeting between the two intellectuals took place during the Black Women in Movement Circuit, organized by the Salvador City Hall through the Municipal Department of Culture and Tourism (Secult). The first edition of the project, which is part of the calendar for the International Day of Black Latin American and Caribbean Women (July 25), has been institutionalized as an annual public policy.

“Being in Salvador is symbolic. This city brings so many women who are references in the struggle, like Maria Felipa and so many contemporaries. It is a great joy to be part of this movement,” Djamila said during the panel moderated by journalist Silvana Oliveira.

The philosopher also highlighted the need for permanent actions to combat racism: “Black women are in motion in all areas of society, but they need to be seen and supported so we can collectively move forward.”

Days earlier, on July 25, Djamila took part in the Encontros Negros (Black Encounters – Special July 25) event at the Bahia State Central Library. The free event, organized by the cultural production company Umbu Comunicação & Cultura, attracted a full audience for a roundtable discussion on the theme “Why do we fight?”.

Moderated by Bahia journalist Val Benvindo, the debate reflected on ancestry, resistance and the leadership of Black women in the Americas. “These gatherings reaffirm our collective strength and show that fighting structural racism is urgent,” Djamila said, stressing the urgency of collective and continuous action against racial inequality.

The Black Women’s July agenda in Salvador also included poetry events, workshops and guided tours in cultural spaces around the city. During Black Women in Movement, activities were held at the Casa das Histórias de Salvador, the Galeria Mercado and the State Public Archive, all with sign language and audio description accessibility.

Place of Speech

In Where We Stand (English edition of Lugar de Fala), Professor Djamila Ribeiro reflects on the importance of recognizing who has the legitimacy to narrate stories and produce knowledge from lived experiences. She emphasizes that speaking from the perspective of Black women is a key premise of Black feminism. The meeting with Vovó Cici reinforces this perspective.

July 25 also marks Salvador’s Black Women’s Day and Brazil’s National Tereza de Benguela Day.

The organizers of Black Encounters have already confirmed that the next edition will take place later this year, in November, during Black Consciousness Month.

Check out Instagram posts from the events below:

 

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Uma publicação compartilhada por Umbu • Comunicação e Cultura🍈 (@umbu_comunicacao)

 

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Uma publicação compartilhada por 𝔼́ 𝕍𝕒𝕝 𝕕𝕖 𝕍𝕒𝕝 𝕞𝕖𝕤𝕞𝕠, 𝕥𝕒́!? ☺️ (@valbenvindo)