Candomblé Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brazil

Candomblé is based in the traditional African beliefs of traditional Yoruba, Fon and Bantu beliefs, and was brought to Brazil by slaves. There are also Candomblé practitioners in some parts of Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Uruguay.

Answer: There is no holy book

Candomblé is a religion of oral traditions and therefore has no holy book, although efforts are now being made to record practices.

Answer: Catholicism

Candomblé, like its cousin, the Cuban religion of Santeria, is a synchretic religion, meaning that many of its deities are also represented by Catholic saints and it has absorbed many Catholic practices.

Answer: Dance In Honour Of The Gods

Music and dance are hugely important parts of Candomblé ceremonies, with many dances being specially choreographed depending on the ceremony to be performed.

Answer: Oludumaré

Oludumaré is the one all powerful God for followers of Candomblé, assisted and served by over 400 lesser deities. Devotees of the religion believe that each individual person has their own personal lesser deity who protects them and is also reflected in the person's personality.

There is also no concept of good or bad in Candomblé. Each person is only required to fulfil his or her destiny to their fullest.

Answer: Orixas

Orixás are able to personify natural forces such as fire, wind and water, but also form allegiances with many other things, both animate and inanimate, such as animals, colours, a particular day of the week or a food group or dance. Orixás are ancestors who have been deified and provide a link between the spiritual world and the world of humans.

Answer: Salvador

Salvador is the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia, and after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, is the fourth largest city in the country. The first temple was founded at the beginning of the 19th century. Worshippers must enter temples or "terreiros" in clean garments and splash their skin with water before entering in order to rid themselves from impurities of the world outside.

Answer: Cowrie shells

On ceremonial days, cowrie shell divinations are performed before the main ceremony in which orixás are invited to enter the bodies of believers through the use of singing, chanting, hypnotic drumming and dancing. At the height of the ceremony, the worshipper's orixá temporarily possesses the dancer's body and he or she enters into a trance-like state and dances alone.

The orixá is then expelled by performing the chants and singing in reverse.

Answer: The sea

Believers, dressed in white light candles, perform ceremonies and give offerings to Yemanja at the ocean side. Yemanja is also the protector of children, fishermen and sailors, and baskets of offerings are prepared for fishermen to take out to sea. Believers will also jump seven waves in the ocean to bring good luck for the new year.

Answer: Gold

Oxum is also the orixa of wealth, prosperity, love and beauty and is responsible for marriage and relationships. As the orixá of wealth and prosperity, gold is the colour of Oxun and many bright yellow plants are associated with her.