African diasporic religious images to be exhibited in Rio

The State Secretariat for Human Rights and Policies for Women and the Elderly in Rio de Janeiro is planning to organize a traveling exhibition with African religious images seized by Civil Police from crossroads and places of worship known as terreiros in the early 20th century.

The project is still pending authorization from the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), which will assess whether the items are in good condition to be exhibited. The National Museum run by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is among the potential venues that will host the exhibition. The collection is currently at the Civil Police Museum in Rio's central area.

Seizure

The African-Brazilian religious images are part of the Civil Police Museum collection, which features some century-old items collected by police as criminal evidence under 1890 crime enforcement laws. The collection was given heritage status in 1938 by the former National Historic and Artistic Heritage Service (SPHAN), now IPHAN, as Black Magic Exhibits.

According to the Human Rights Secretary, Átila Nunes, African cults back then were associated with black magic. “Religious discrimination was overt back then. Catholicism was the hegemonic religion, and sadly, African diasporic religious traditions were associated with black magic.”

Recovery

Police kept the cult images they seized. Nunes wants to tell the story of the ordeal religions like Umbanda and Candomblé have gone through until present-day recognition. “We want to take these sacred images around the state so people can visit and learn the stories behind them,” he said.

Nunes explained “misguided” state policy in the early 20th century led to a persecution of African diasporic religions. “They were the worst-hit by political persecution back then, and Civil Police enforced it not only by arresting their leaders but also by seizing the religious icons from the terreiros.”

The secretary says that in addition to their religious value, these images are a reminder of how Brazilian culture has changed in time. IPHAN will provide expert consultancy as to whether the items are in good condition and can be exhibited at different museums and other places of culture. The secretary said he requested a meeting with IPHAN representatives to discuss proposals for the traveling exhibition and has arranged a meeting with the police chief in charge of the Civil Police Museum to check the items' condition.

Nunes said when the first exhibition will be on depends on IPHAN's authorization. If authorized, the exhibition could start touring as early as this year.

Translated by Mayra Borges