O Negro Religioso
Category: Ladainhas
Lyrics, Translations, Music Video and Song Meaning
Song Lyrics
00:27 - O Negro Religioso
Eng: The Religious Black
00:32 - Dentro de casa tem seu gonga
Eng: Inside the house there is a gong
00:39 - O Negro Religioso
Eng: The Religious Black
00:44 - Dentro de casa tem seu gonga
Eng: Inside the house there is a gong
00:49 - Porém desde o cativeira
Eng: But since captivity
00:52 - Mudou de nome o seu Orixá
Eng: Your Orixá changed its name
00:58 - E assim dona Janaína é Nossa Senhora da Conceicão
Eng: And so Dona Janaína is Our Lady of the Conception
01:06 - Oxum e das Candeias
Eng: Oxum and Candeias
01:09 - Oxóssi é São Sebastião
Eng: Oxóssi is Saint Sebastian
01:16 - São Lázaro é Omolu
Eng: Saint Lazarus is Omolu
01:18 - São Jorge é Ogum
Eng: Saint George is Ogum
01:20 - Santana é Nanâ
Eng: Saint Anne is Nanâ
01:27 - E assim São Bartolomeu é Oxumaré
Eng: And so Saint Bartholomew is Oxumaré
01:31 - So Pedro é Xangó
Eng: So Pedro is Xangó
01:34 - Obá é Joana D’arc
Eng: Obá is Joana D’arc
01:38 - Pai Oxalá é Nosso Senhor
Eng: Father Oxalá is Our Lord
History and sentiment behind song
Song about slaves who brought their African beliefs in spirits and magic to Brazil. While the slaves outwardly worshipped under the Catholic faith, they covertly carried on their religious beliefs since slave owners prohibited slaves from practising their African form of worship.
Orixás worship, is common in Brazil, there is a calendar celebration for all the gods, which generally coincide with the Catholic celebrations of Lent, Advent, Easter and the days of Saints John, Peter, Paul, Lazarus, Cosmos and Damian, Anthony, Sebastian, George, and All Souls' Day, and Immaculate Conception.
The song refers to Ogum, which is associated with Saint George the dragon-slayer, he is the god of steel and lives deep in the forest his colours vary but always include the red of blood. His symbol is the sword and other wrought iron tools.
Oxalá at the end of the song refers to the creator God in Candomblé (African religion),
