Brazilian Samba – Goddess Yemanjá

It’s a high-energy carnival street dance, a ballroom competition dance and a sensual celebration of the body. Not surprisingly, samba, a Brazilian phenomenon with African roots, is currently empowering women all over the world by making them unlock their hips and embrace their femininity. The epitome of mestiçagem – racial and cultural mixture – samba’s origins can be found in West Africa’s Yorùbá culture. Enslaved to be transported to Brazil, the tribe members would pray to goddess Yemanjá to protect them during their harrowing journey overseas. Yemanjá, also known as Mama Watta – Mother of the Waters – listened and protected. Associated with peacocks, the full moon, the stars and sea, the subconscious, creativity and female fertility, she is the primal Mother but a typical woman as well, flaws and all. Yemanjá has a temper and occasionally cheats on her partner, but she also forgives easily and loves to dance, her movements reflecting the rhythm of the waves. And so the goddess arrived in Brazil, where her rhythm and sensual powers became the soul of samba. To this day, you will hear her saluted in Brazil in Yorùbá language: “Odoya!”. In the streets and on the dance floors, you will see people shake and twirl to her undulating rhythms, dancing themselves into trance, hoping to become one with Yemanjá. And perhaps, for a fleeting moment, they will be able to touch the essence of life.