Agbado Festival addresses food security

The 1st Agbado Festival, also known as the Oxóssi Festival, organized by the Afrodiasporic matriarchy collective Afrikerança, occupies this Saturday (20), the Day of Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro, the premises of the Museum of the Republic, in Catete, south of the capital, from 10am. The event will last until 7pm, with free activities.

The festival celebrates corn, which is Oxóssi's food, and a food that plays a fundamental role not only in Africa but also in Brazil, where it contributes to the fight against food insecurity, according to Ìyálode Ojéwunmi Rosângela D'Yewa, Candomblé representative and deputy -president of the Municipal Council for the Defense and Promotion of Religious Freedom of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Complir). “And talking about corn, about food, we are talking about food security in Brazil,” he told Brazil Agency.

The event also deals with religious racism. “The festival will deal with the sacred food of Oxóssi, but promoting inter-religious dialogue. There will be indigenous people, Umbanda, other religions, all invited to come and speak at the festival. Because this is the time for us to combat religious racism and intolerance and respect each person’s faith.”

In addition to the gastronomic part, the festival has a crafts fair and will have lectures, exhibitions and workshops, with corn as the protagonist. A photographic exhibition, with images spread throughout the museum, shows the importance of terreiros, as the spaces where the worship of sacred African deities takes place are called. An orixá made entirely of corn straw, representing sustainability, welcomes visitors.

Speeches

Ìyálode Ojéwunmi Rosângela D'Yewas said that the lectures will address food security and corn, food racism, monoculture as a process of agro globalization, among other topics.

The idea, according to the vice-president of Complir, is to hold the Agbado Festival annually. There will also be cultural performances, samba de roda, percussion and caboclas, storytelling, composting, capoeira.

At various points in the Museum of the Republic, fruits and foods made from corn can be enjoyed, such as tamale, curau, cooked corn, corn cake, among others.

There will be the Oxóssi procession, which will culminate with the display of pieces from Candomblé ancestors seized by the police a long time ago and which are now released for consideration.

Visitors will be welcomed by three children, who will deliver corn representing prosperity, “so that no one ever goes hungry in their home”, said Iyá Rosângela.

At the end of the event, each religious leader will take fruit and food made from corn to be delivered to the homeless population.

The idea of ​​the Agbado Festival is that it is a democratic, inclusive space that promotes and motivates African religions and culture, where governments, companies and civil society can contribute to strengthening citizenship and human rights and combating religious racism. , said the event organizers.