Father Silmar

White fabric: on the walls, on the heads, on the bodies, on the floor. Atabaques are played by the same hands that care for the house, those of the Ogans. Other hands clap and new dances start taking hold of the matter in the people: they are no longer the same as the ones who came through the door. The entities follow suit, yelling while they do their works or celebrations or studies. Smoking leaves, swirling skirts, burning pipes… this is the Gira.

“There’s nothing occult in Umbanda.

The knowledge we pass on

Is one of faith and love for your neighbor”

Father Silmar

This is the name given to the meeting rituals in Umbanda, a religion born in Brazilian lands from the manifestation of Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas through medium Zélio Fernandino de Morais during the 20th century: he announced he’d start another religion uniting African Orixás and Indigenous spirits, that are now the entities adorning beautiful altars in the centers and channeling lessons on how to deal with the life issues of the simple people.

Yes, one thing said to differentiate Candomblé from Umbanda is the accessibility of the latter: open to new possibilities for renewing itself, it has less costly rituals and uses everyday language. This is how many Brazilians are able to connect with something that helps them maintain a routine often riddled with prejudice and pain. And there are quite a few types of Umbanda: The White or Table Umbanda that doesn’t require the presence of Orixás, Omolokô that relies both on Orixás and Spirit Guides, Umbandomblé that alternates Umbanda and Candomblé rituals, and Esoteric Umbanda.

“Faith is having something

on which to hold in times of agony.

Spirituality is believing in the invisible,

believing in the force of nature

and its entities”

Father Silmar

This is how it happened with Father Silmar. His father founded the Tenda Espírita Caboclo Sete Flechas: he needed to learn how to handle his oldest son’s spiritual problem. When his father became enchanted, twenty-five years before, it was Silmar who received the call to resume the works performed by the indigenous entity, responsible for the rituals and preparation of Umbanda mediums.

In addition to the Caboclo Sete Flechas, another one of Father Silmar’s important guides is the Exu das Sete Porteiras: the spirit of a man who was a priest in his lifetime, and teaches about love and union. During the works, entities determine the duties – the believers’ tasks – according to each one’s problem or needs. Herbal baths, incense burning around the corners of the house, specific colors for outfits, things you can and can’t eat for a few days.

This is all done to help strengthen the soul with teachings of discipline and dignity. Umbanda simply overflows its take on the world during every moment and phase of a life devoted to this faith. The wedding is one of these traditional rituals carried out by Father Silmar in his tent: a mass, some advice, a party, and dancing.

“Umbanda’s purpose is

to reassure people of themselves

So they can, therefore, become more loving”

Father Silmar

Despite its union and adaptation based ethics, Umbanda was and still is discriminated against all over Brazil. Be it in prejudice or ignorance, houses and masters are faced with suspicion while proposing… love.

As if any more explanation were needed on top of a dancing body, an uncontrollable reaction, a desire to hug… A faith that raises from and is endangered by having reached in its practice what has proven to be one of humanity’s greatest challenges: simplicity.

“Umbanda is about

letting life take its course”

Father Silmar