{"id":4352,"date":"2025-09-14T07:31:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T10:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.djamilaribeiro.com.br\/?p=4352"},"modified":"2025-09-14T08:20:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T11:20:38","slug":"opinion-djamila-ribeiro-with-casa-alafia-an-urban-quilombo-is-born-in-the-heart-of-curitiba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.djamilaribeiro.com.br\/en\/opinion-djamila-ribeiro-with-casa-alafia-an-urban-quilombo-is-born-in-the-heart-of-curitiba\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion \u2013 Djamila Ribeiro: With Casa Al\u00e1fia, an Urban Quilombo is Born in the Heart of Curitiba"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published in Folha de S. Paulo<\/a> on August 14, 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Brazilian Candombl\u00e9 is rooted in the worship of orix\u00e1s<\/em>\u2014our deified ancestors whose journeys on Earth, long ago, carved paths we still walk and reinterpret today.<\/p>\n

It is a philosophy of life anchored in ancestry, transmitted from generation to generation since time immemorial. We honor elders as guardians of memory and wisdom while positioning ourselves as guides and protectors of younger generations.<\/p>\n

A significant part of Candombl\u00e9 practice is devoted to studying and deepening these ancestral paths\u2014technologies used to teach, through the observation of strengths and challenges, how to transcend spiritually and live meaningfully, both individually and collectively.<\/p>\n

These paths are known as Odus<\/em>, and while there are shared principles, each terreiro<\/em> (temple) may interpret them differently. Odus<\/em> are often consulted through jogo de b\u00fazios<\/em> (cowrie shell divination), a traditional oracle in Afro-Brazilian religions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to highlight that Odus<\/em> are not about fortune-telling in the popular sense. They offer messages, dilemmas, and questions which, when placed in perspective with one’s life, can lead to deep personal evaluation.<\/p>\n

The Odu Oss\u00e1<\/em>, for instance\u2014with nine shells open\u2014might ask how one is honoring feminine power, or signal the need to reconnect with the planet\u2019s magical energy.<\/p>\n

Ejiok\u00f4<\/em>, with two shells open, might point to lost lightness in a bitter life, or warn of a na\u00efvet\u00e9 that\u2019s causing harm. The interpretations are endless.<\/p>\n

The most widely known study of these paths\u2014also linked to the If\u00e1 tradition, which we\u2019ll explore another time\u2014maps out 256 Odus<\/em>, concentrated into 16 primary ones.<\/p>\n

Each Odu carries its own recommendations, cautions, and meanings, interpreted by a babalorix\u00e1<\/em> or iyalorix\u00e1<\/em> based on their ax\u00e9<\/em>-based learning.<\/p>\n

So vast is the knowledge surrounding Odus that it could easily fill an entire book series. Scholars such as M\u00e3e Stella de Ox\u00f3ssi and Agenor Miranda da Rocha, among many others, dedicated their lives to studying them and left significant contributions for future generations.<\/p>\n

Among them is an Odu that is celebrated with particular joy: Al\u00e1fia<\/em>. When all 16 shells fall open during a divination, it is almost always a sign of favorable winds\u2014absolute peace, good news, prosperity, and balance. It\u2019s no surprise that \u201cal\u00e1fia\u201d became an expression of good fortune, a call for positive thought and action.<\/p>\n

With this Odu in mind, I received news from artist Aline Bispo\u2014who has illustrated this column since the beginning\u2014about the opening of Casa \u00c0l\u00e0\u00e1f\u00ed\u00e0 in Curitiba.<\/p>\n

Aline is deeply excited about the initiative, located at 480 Jaime Reis Street. The space is the vision of singer and poet Daniel Montelles and emerges as an urban quilombo in the heart of the city: \u201cA house of Afro-Brazilian culture, aesthetics, and cuisine\u2014a sign that good things are coming. Casa \u00c0l\u00e0\u00e1f\u00ed\u00e0 resists in diaspora, fiercely carrying the voice of Black people and their matriarchal majesty. We are ready to blacken our relationships, our exchanges\u2026 Redesigning models of culture and hospitality in this city, with joy and resistance. A Black space for the community, where hierarchy and reverence for ancestral excellence are our guiding principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

The house is rooted in the words of poet Ant\u00f4nio Bispo dos Santos, known as Nego Bispo, who passed away two years ago. Reflecting on the circular worldview of Black, quilombola, and Indigenous peoples, he once said: \u201cWe are the beginning, the middle, and the beginning again. We will always exist, smiling in sorrow to welcome joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur journeys move us, our ancestry guides us.\u201d Casa \u00c0l\u00e0\u00e1f\u00ed\u00e0 launched on August 17.<\/p>\n

The opening featured afox\u00e9<\/em>, maracatu<\/em>, samba<\/em>, and other cultural expressions. A space by and for Black people, rooted in ancestral knowledge, with each guest invited to wear white in honor of the powerful ax\u00e9<\/em> of this beginning.<\/p>\n

All I can do is wish the Casa the best of fortunes\u2014and that we all may feel the good path already underway. Al\u00e1fia!<\/p>\n

An urban quilombo rises in central Curitiba with ax\u00e9, memory, and resistance.<\/p>\n

Content translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally published in Folha de S. Paulo on August 14, 2025 Brazilian Candombl\u00e9 is rooted in the worship of orix\u00e1s\u2014our deified ancestors whose journeys on Earth, long ago, carved paths we still walk and reinterpret today. It is a philosophy of life anchored in ancestry, transmitted from generation to generation since time immemorial. We honor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[468,575,458,418,1351,1352,1340,1353,1354],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOpinion \u2013 Djamila Ribeiro: With Casa Al\u00e1fia, an Urban Quilombo is Born in the Heart of Curitiba - Djamila Ribeiro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"More than fortune-telling, the Odus in Candombl\u00e9 bring messages, dilemmas, and spark deep self-reflection.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.djamilaribeiro.com.br\/en\/opinion-djamila-ribeiro-with-casa-alafia-an-urban-quilombo-is-born-in-the-heart-of-curitiba\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Opinion \u2013 Djamila Ribeiro: With Casa Al\u00e1fia, an Urban Quilombo is Born in the Heart of Curitiba - 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