“Kawô Kabiyesi”: white privileges and the representations of justice between Themis and Shango

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the problems of legal epistemology and hermeneutics arising from the white worldview resulting from coloniality, whose effects persist to the present day. The examination was conducted from the perspective of iconographic representations of Justice by Themis (Divinity of Justice in Greek mythology) and Shango (Orisha of Justice in Africa and diasporas). The study intended to promote discussion on the issue of whiteness and the obstacles to white legal epistemology and hermeneutics from the perspective of Themis’ Justice, making its counterpoint based on a legal hermeneutics based on the perspective of Shango’s Justice. Thus, methodologically, this is an article built on the analysis of bibliographical references related to the topic. Finally, there is a concise discussion on possible paths to try to deconstruct whiteness and consider elements for the decolonization of the constitutional systems, in specific, and legal systems, in general.