It is to eat while praying: an analysis of Oxum’s Ipeté

Abstract

In celebrations within Candomblé terreiro communities, food is an obligatory presence, as it guides the connection between humans and deities through the preparation and maintenance of liturgical rites. This article investigates the performative, symbolic, and culinary variations of the Oxum Ipeté festival across five Candomblé terreiros located in different neighborhoods of Salvador, Bahia, analyzing their similarities, differences, and meanings within ritual practices. This is an exploratory study of qualitative nature, which seeks—through on-site observation—to identify, within the festivities themselves, the elements that envelop the celebration in such profound mystery: a votive food offering to the orixá Oxum, who also lends her name to the festival. The results highlight both significant ritual similarities and differences among the studied terreiros, while underscoring the vital importance of preserving Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage, which endures among descendants of Africans and their networks of familial solidarity.