Afro-Brazilian Religions and Protected Urban Areas: The Cases of Laranjeiras and São Cristóvão, Sergipe

Abstract

This paper means to point and discuss how Afrobrazilian cultural and religious manifestations from Laranjeiras and Sao Cristovao—both cities in the federal state of Sergipe, Brazil—are misrepresented by cultural heritage policies, in the Brazilian federal sphere. The main issue worked upon in this article is: How representative is the Afrobrazilian religions’ cultural heritage among the protected sites in Laranjeiras and Sao Cristovao? The key statement is built around the fact that both areas have significant number of terreiros (Umbanda and Candomble’s sacred meeting places), as well as the presence of many Afrobrazilian cultural and religious manifestations, nevertheless low—almost none—participation from those communities and practices in cultural goods’ protection policies. This situation happens regardless of federal protection in the Laranjeiras Historical Center and the recognition of the Sao Cristovao’s landscape and architectural ensemble as a UNESCO World Heritage. Socioeconomic, territorial and cultural aspects will be analyzed, in order to demonstrate how these Afrobrazilian communities demand historical recognition and right to memory, along with their belief that cultural heritage protection policies and instruments can help them achieve other social rights. This discussion becomes even more relevant, considering today’s political situation in the country, where the clear alignment and closeness between the federal government and New Pentecostal church reflects on restricted political will towards Afrobrazilian cultural and religious manifestations preservation, that are consequently put at risk.