Abstract

BASSI, Francesca. The efficacy of passions: sensitivity and identity among Candomblé’s initiates. Etnográfica [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp.437-456. ISSN 0873-6561.

In the context of the Candomblé cult of Bahia, a system of personal prescriptions and avoidances is connected with some extra-human intentionality. Actually, the relation of extra-humans with the initiate could be expressed through sensations or physical negative reactions (sensibilities). Generally, an orixá (deity) or an odu (sign of destiny) are at the origin of his negative reactions (disgust feeling, alimentary intolerance or allergy), which could arise as a ritual interdiction. An implicit conceptualization of these taboos (quizilas) as an embodied consequence of an extra-human aversion or antagonism emerges, from which we can analyze the weight of this kind of “emotional” agencies in the ritual construction of the new identity of the Candomblé’s initiate.

Keywords : Candomblé; quizila; emotions; ritual prohibition; sensibility; identity.

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