Terreiros

My backyard is a terreiro Where the sabiá bird sings My backyard is Brazilian Ask permission to come in

In the decades that followed the end of the Atlantic slave trade and the end of African slavery, in the homes of Black families — often headed by women — nighttime drumming accompanied religious celebrations in which gods of African origin took on new forms in the Rio de Janeiro diaspora. Held in secret and harshly repressed, they retained a strong connection to Africa and the Atlantic that the Cais do Valongo, then hidden beneath the Cais da Imperatriz, still represented.

Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph. In the foreground, we see three boats floating on a river. On the left side, there is a boat with a raised structure, possibly a water tower. In the center, another smaller boat is stationary, while on the right, a third boat is also present. In the background, we see a series of industrial and residential buildings, including a large factory with several side structures. To the left of the horizon, there is a mountain with an irregular shape. The image appears to capture a historic coastal city.

Furthermore, candomblé houses became places of welcome for Africans and Afro-descendants arriving from other parts of the country, especially from Bahia, starting in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Records tell that at Pedra do Sal, a house dedicated to Oxalá, upon learning that a vessel coming from the province of Bahia was about to dock, would hang its white cloth on the balcony to let the newcomers know that they could be welcomed and cared for there by their brothers and sisters in faith, until they could get back on their feet.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a community event. On the left side, we see women wearing long skirts and white blouses, some of them holding flowers. In the center, a man is dressed in a crown and a cape, holding a pointed object. To his right, another woman, also wearing a crown, is dressed in a long gown and holding flowers. In the background, there are buildings and people watching the event. On the ground, in the foreground, is an object that appears to be a glass bottle.