Slave Of The Saints
Nichole Acevedo
LALS 31106
Professor Nieves
October 6, 2014
Slave of the Saints: Documentary Review
Kelly Hayes' Slave of the Saints introduced a new kind of worshipping along Afro-Brazilians, their urban community and marginalized society. The documentary illustrated Afro-Brazilian rituals of Pomba Gira and other possessing entities that not only speak through human beings such as Nazare but also depicts both the subordination and empowerment under traditional views of hypersexualized femininity that also links marginalized women to the spiritual life of feminine entities.
Malcumba's erotic lifestyle transgresses the norms of femininity during her lifetime. I believe that Hayes is trying to connect the spiritual world as the spirit uses Nazare as the material for the Pomba Gira to speak and protect through, becoming the ruling of the head. During Macumba's celebration, for example, Nazare acted possessed as if it wasn't her speaking anymore but rather her entity opening up about her struggles under a poverty-stricken life, from the concubines, leaving her abusive husband, selling her body to survive with her child in the streets of urban Brazil. She represents one of many women and families in Brazil, her sexuality defied under patriarchy and the hierarchy of class and race.
The documentary portrayed the livelihood of one being a slave of a saint, working to protect others, celebrate their spirits in "festas" for their work they have done all year long. During Macumba's celebration, Nazare beautifies herself to represent her Pomba Gira with long, blonde hair and green eyes, pampering herself to look like her as she is the material body to her spiritual works. Nazare expresses Macumba’s femininity as being loved, adored, celebrated with lots of drinks, smoke, dancing and ultimately enjoying themselves with chanting and singing.
The place where they planned to celebrate Macumba’s spiritual work was prepared weeks in advance which was contributed by people
LALS 31106
Professor Nieves
October 6, 2014
Slave of the Saints: Documentary Review
Kelly Hayes' Slave of the Saints introduced a new kind of worshipping along Afro-Brazilians, their urban community and marginalized society. The documentary illustrated Afro-Brazilian rituals of Pomba Gira and other possessing entities that not only speak through human beings such as Nazare but also depicts both the subordination and empowerment under traditional views of hypersexualized femininity that also links marginalized women to the spiritual life of feminine entities.
Malcumba's erotic lifestyle transgresses the norms of femininity during her lifetime. I believe that Hayes is trying to connect the spiritual world as the spirit uses Nazare as the material for the Pomba Gira to speak and protect through, becoming the ruling of the head. During Macumba's celebration, for example, Nazare acted possessed as if it wasn't her speaking anymore but rather her entity opening up about her struggles under a poverty-stricken life, from the concubines, leaving her abusive husband, selling her body to survive with her child in the streets of urban Brazil. She represents one of many women and families in Brazil, her sexuality defied under patriarchy and the hierarchy of class and race.
The documentary portrayed the livelihood of one being a slave of a saint, working to protect others, celebrate their spirits in "festas" for their work they have done all year long. During Macumba's celebration, Nazare beautifies herself to represent her Pomba Gira with long, blonde hair and green eyes, pampering herself to look like her as she is the material body to her spiritual works. Nazare expresses Macumba’s femininity as being loved, adored, celebrated with lots of drinks, smoke, dancing and ultimately enjoying themselves with chanting and singing.
The place where they planned to celebrate Macumba’s spiritual work was prepared weeks in advance which was contributed by people