Altamira Cecília dos Santos (1923 – 2019), also known as Mãe Tatá Oxum Tomilá, was the eighth ''

mãe-de-santo A ''mãe-de-santo'' or ''mãe de santo'' (, plural mães de santo ) is a Ordination of women, priestess of Candomblé, Umbanda and Quimbanda, the Afro-Brazilian religions. Those Portuguese language, Portuguese words mean literally "saint's mothe ...

'', ''ialorixá'' or high priestess of the '' Casa Branca do Engenho Velho'' temple of ''

Candomblé Ketu Candomblé Ketu (or Queto in Portuguese) is the largest and most influential branch (''nation'') of Candomblé, a religion practiced primarily in Brazil. The word Candomblé means "ritual dancing or gather in honor of gods" and Ketu is the name o ...

'', the largest and most influential branch of the ''

Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West and Central Africa, especi ...

'' religion practiced in Brazil.

Early life

Santos was born in 1923 in

Salvador da Bahia Salvador, meaning "salvation" (or "saviour") in Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese may refer to: * Salvador (name) Arts, entertainment, and media Music *Salvador (band), a Christian band that plays both English and Spanish music ** ''Salvador'' ( ...

, the daughter of Maria Deolinda dos Santos, popularly known as ''Papai Oquê''. With the death of Marieta Vitória Cardoso, the so-called ''Mãe Niquê'', she succeeded her in 1985 as the ''eighth ialorixá'' of the ''Casa Branca do Engenho Velho'' temple or ''terreiro'' in the Brotas neighbourhood of Salvador, the oldest ''Candomblé'' temple in the city. In this role, she was assisted by the ''Mãe-pequena'' (Little mother), Juliana da Silva Baraúna, and the ''Mãe Nitinha de Oxum'', Areonite da Conceição Chagas. Altamira is recognized as having been one of the greatest leaders of ''Candomblé'' in

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

, being responsible for many reforms to her temple. In 1986, under her leadership, the ''terreiro'', with an area of approximately 6,800 m², with buildings, trees and sacred objects, was the first example of a black monument to be recognized as a Historical Heritage of Brazil by the

National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage The National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (, IPHAN) is a heritage register of the federal government of Brazil. It is responsible for the preservation of buildings, monuments, structures, objects and sites, as well as the register an ...

(IPHAN).

Death

In 2015 Altamira was diagnosed as having

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

, but she continued to lead the terreiro, fulfilling her religious obligations. She died on 7 December 2019, aged 96, at her home near the temple. She was buried in the municipal cemetery of ''Jardim da Saudade'' after a procession that passed through the streets of the neighbourhood in the company of a large crowd of hundreds of people all dressed in the traditional white for funerals. Due to her death the temple suspended its activities for a one-year period of mourning.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Altamira Cecília dos 1923 births 2019 deaths Afro-Brazilian women Candomblé Brazilian Candomblés