Holy Harlots: Femininity, Sexuality, and Black Magic in Brazil

309 Pages·2011·1.62 MB·English

by  Kelly E. Hayes

Holy Harlots
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Holy Harlots
Femininity, Sexuality, and Black Magic
in Brazil
Kelly E. Hayes
university of california press
Berkeley • Los Angeles • London
University of California Press, one of the most
distinguished university presses in the United States,
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tion, visit www .ucpress. edu .
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, En gland
© 2011 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data
Hayes, Kelly E., 1968–
Holy harlots : femininity, sexuality, and black magic
in Brazil / Kelly E. Hayes.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978- 0- 520-2 6264- 5 (cloth : alk. paper) —
ISBN 978- 0- 520-2 6265- 2 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Pomba-G ira. 2. Afro-B razilian cults— Brazil.
3. Brazil—R eligious life and customs. I. Title.
BL2590.B7H39 2011
306.6'996121140981—dc22
2010046166
Manufactured in the United States of America
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on Cascades Enviro 100, a 100%
post consumer waste, recycled, de-i nked fi ber. FSC
recycled certifi ed and proc essed chlorine free. It is acid
free, Ecologo certifi ed, and manufactured by BioGas
energy.
To CAC
Thank you for everything you have ever done,
but most of all for bringing me along on this
world- record journey of happiness.
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Contents
Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
part one. introduction: wicked women
and femmes fatales
1. Wicked Women and Femmes Fatales 3
2. Pomba Gira and the Religious Imagination 38
part two. society: the urban periphery
3. Life on the Margins 71
4. Sexuality, Morality, and the Logic of Gender 95
part three. discourse: stories about pomba gira
5. Becoming a Zelador 117
6. Spiritual Defenders and Protectors 141
7. Maria Molambo’s Revenge 158
part four. practice: working with pomba gira
8. If God Is All Good, Then Only the Devi l Can Combat Evil 175
9. Balancing Human and Spirit Worlds 201
Notes 225
Bibliography 265
Index 289
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Illustrations
1. Pomba Gira statues / 5
2. Nazaré dressed as Pomba Gira / 12
3. Statues of various exus / 21
4. Statue of a preto velho / 23
5. Statue of a caboclo / 24
6. Pomba Gira of the Seven Crossroads / 39
7. Large red Pomba Gira statue / 40
8. Pomba Gira products / 41
9. Statue of Maria Molambo / 45
10. Statue of Pomba Gira with fl ames / 50
11. Statue of Pomba Gira on a coffi n / 52
12. Statue of Zé Pilintra / 56
13. Nazaré as Maria Molambo / 63
14. Acari / 75
15. Assentamentos / 7 9
16. Nazaré and her young est son / 126
17. Ebó (food offering) / 1 80
18. Sign in Rio advertising spiritual works / 183
ix