African Spiritual Wind in Brazilian Literary Land: Black Feminist Archetypes in Contos de Axé

• In Event: Literature and Intersectionality

Abstract

In the anthology "Contos de Axé" (Axe Tales, 2021), contemporary Afro-Brazilian writers craft stories inspired by the archetypes of eighteen orishas to pay homage to African matrix religions. Each narrative centers on the African heritage of Afro-Brazilians, while addressing recurring themes in Black-authored fiction, such as ancestral power and political engagement among Afro-descendants. This article focuses on the role of women as leaders within their communities—a practice sustained through religious associations like Candomblé, embracing a matrilineal tradition that breaks away from (post)colonial norms. To explore this, I conduct an in-depth analysis of two stories: "Nas asas de borboletas de papel" (On the Wings of Paper Butterflies) by Eliane Alves Cruz, featuring the orisha Iansã, and "Lama que cura" (Healing Mud) by Adil Araújo Lima, inspired by Oduduá, the Yoruba creator. Through this study, I argue that the depicted archetypes resonate in the protagonists' realities — Bárbara and Mãe Zilia — highlighting the fundamental role of Black women not only in their communities but also in fostering a feminist discourse grounded in African roots and reflective of women's realities in the Global South.

Author

• Lidiana De Moraes, Vanderbilt University