MYTHIC GEOGRAPHY OF UMBANDA: USES AND SYMBOLIC APPROPRIATIONS OF URBAN SPACES

Abstract

The afro-brazilian “terreiros” are social, mystical and symbolic places, where the followers of a religion called “umbanda” can make their rituals. In these spaces, these followers can live an alternate reality from the one presented by society, since these places are seen as a locus of the vital ancient forces, that can be conserved and passed to other people. The “terreiros” insides are full of spiritual sybolism and are extensions of its entities´s vital essence, allied to the urban way of life, in the construction of their organization and servile speech and in the historical conflict of their beliefs.