Ilê Axé Iyá Omin Iyamassê is a

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 ...

terreiro in

Salvador, Bahia Salvador () is a Municipalities of Brazil, Brazilian municipality and capital city of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognize ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. It is also known as the Terreiro do Gantois or the Sociedade São Jorge do Gantois. It is located on Alto do Gantois Avenue in the Federação neighborhood of Salvador. The terreiro is associated with the

Ketu KETU (1120 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Catoosa, Oklahoma, and serving the Tulsa metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a Spanish adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Antonio Perez, through licensee Radio Las Amer ...

branch of the religion. It shares a history with the

Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká is a historic Candomblé temple (or ''terreiro,'' in Portuguese) in the city of Salvador, Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. It is also known as the Casa Branca do Engenho Velho, or simply the Casa Branca. Located on a hill ...

(Terreiro da Casa Branca) and

Ilê Axé Opô Afonjá Ilê Axé Opó Afonjá, also known as Centro Santa Cruz Axé of Opó Afonjá or Casa de Xangô, is a Candomblé Candomblé#Houses_of_Worship, terreiro in Salvador, Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It was founded by Eugênia Anna Santos (1869-1938 ...

. The terreiro occupies ranging from the ridge of a hill and a small valley.

Founding

The terreiro was founded by Mãe Menininha do Gantois (1894-1986). Succession rules limit the head position of the terreiro, the Ialorixá, to female individuals. Senior positions in the terreiro are further restricted to descendants of the founder.

Terreiro

The main structure of the terreiro, known as a ''barracão'', sits at the top of the property and includes a hall for public ceremonies, kitchen is used for the preparation of ritual foods, dining room, dressing rooms, and private rooms for religious leaders of the terreiro. The Mãe Menininha do Gantois Memorial is located adjacent to the main barracão. Shrines dedicated to Exu, Omolu, and

Ogun Ogun or Ogoun ( Yoruba: Ògún, Edo: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a Yoruba Orisha that is adopted in several African religions. Ògún is a warrior and a powerful spi ...

are located outside the main barracão. Of particular importance are a fig tree (''Ficus'') and a

jackfruit The jackfruit or ''nangka'' (''Artocarpus heterophyllus'') is a species of tree in the Common fig, fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae). The jackfruit is the largest tree fruit, reaching as much as in weight, in length, and in d ...

tree dedicated to Ogun.

Gantois

The terreiro has historically been known as Gantois, the

Portuguese-language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...

name for

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. The name is a reference to the birthplace of the original owner of the property Edoard Gantois. Gantois was a navigator and slave trader who operated between Bahia and the slave markets of

Ouidah Ouidah (English: ; French: ) or Whydah (; ''Ouidah'', ''Juida'', and ''Juda'' by the French; ''Ajudá'' by the Portuguese; and ''Fida'' by the Dutch), and known locally as Glexwe, formerly the chief port of the Kingdom of Whydah, is a city on t ...

Benin Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its po ...

and

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. He leased the land to Maria Júlia da Conceição Nazareth, the founder of the terreiro.

Lineage

*Maria Júlia da Conceição Nazaré, founder of the terreiro *Pulchéria Maria da Conceição *Maria da Glória Nazareth *Mãe Menininha do Gantois *Mãe Cleusa Millet *Mãe Carmem

Heritage status

Ilê Axé Iyá Omin Iyamassê received heritage status by the Brazilian

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) on December 17, 2002.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ile Axe Iya Omin Iyamasse National heritage sites of Bahia Religious buildings and structures in Salvador, Bahia Organisations based in Salvador, Bahia Candomblé temples