Candomblé
/kĂŁdĂ”ËblÉ/noun
An Afro-Brazilian religion rooted in West and Central African spiritual traditions, especially those of the Yoruba, Fon, and Bantu peoples.
Did you know?The name Candomblé is a Brazilian Portuguese word tied to Afro-Brazilian worship, and the religion preserves ritual vocabulary, music, and spirit practices that survived slavery by adapting in plain sight.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Portuguese
candomblé
âAn Afro-Brazilian religious practice and its ceremonies, especially in Bahia.â
18th-19th Century
Brazilian Portuguese
candombe
âA term used for African-derived dance, music, or religious gatherings in colonial Brazil and neighboring regions.â
17th-19th Century
Bantu/West African
kandombe / kandombe
âLikely a borrowed African term associated with dancing, drumming, or a ritual gathering; the exact source language and original sense are uncertain.â
Colonial Era
Portuguese
candombe
âA word applied in Brazil to African cultural and religious practices, especially those involving music and ceremony.â
Modern English
English
Candomblé
âThe Afro-Brazilian religion itself, or ceremonies connected with it.â
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