Paper short abstract:

The objective of this paper is to take a closer look at the modes of articulation between different religious genres, stressing how plurality and creativity are central in the co-option of a catholic festival by Afro-Brazilian cult houses of Tambor de Mina (Brazil).

Paper long abstract:

Modes of articulation between catholic spiritual entities and rituals and African derived spiritual entities and rituals (as well as other spiritual entities and rituals) are an important trait of the Afro-Brazilian religion of Tambor de Mina (São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil). The prominent role that Hoy Ghost festas play in the ritual script of Tambor de Mina cult houses is an important part of this cosmopolitan orientation of Tambor de Mina. The objective of this paper is to take a closer look at the modes of articulation between Holy Ghost festas and Tambor de Mina. Moving beyond static views of "syncretism" as a final outcome of processes of interface between different religious genres, the paper stresses how plurality, creativity and change are central in the co-option of Holy Ghost festas by different Tambor de Mina cult houses. It also tries to show how these plural processes are linked to a more general characteristic of Tambor de Mina: its capacity for articulating different ways of religious dwelling and different ways of situating Afro-Brazilian religious beliefs and practices in the religious and political public sphere.