Zé Pilintra is a boss of one phalanx of entities of light ('group of evolved spirits considered entities that return incorporated/irradiated in mediums to help others') originating from the syncretic belief called Catimbó, which arose in the Northeast of Brazil. Zé Pilintra is also commonly "incorporated" in Umbanda temples, with his cult spread throughout Brazil. In this religion, it can be considered part of the line of work of right or left (each one with its own characteristics). Zé Pilintra is one of the most important entities in Afro-Brazilian cults, especially among Umbandistas. It is considered the patron spirit of bars, gambling venues and gutters, although not aligned with entities of a negative nature, it can be considered a kind of archetypal transcription of the "rascal" that make transitions between both worlds. According to tradition, he was born in the state of Pernambuco in his human form.

Origins

Umbanda Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catho ...

, Zé Pilintra is widely believed to be an Exu. In Catimbó, Zé Pilintra is seen as a wandering human spirit leading a phalanx of '' malandros''.

Distribution of followers

The followers of Zé Pilintra are concentrated in the urban areas of

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

and

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

, but they are also found in the rural regions of northeastern Brazil, among ''catimbozeiros (''followers of ''Catimbó'').

On media and popular culture

Brazilian composer and singer Chico Buarque based the main character of his '' Ópera do Malandro'' according to the visual style and manners of Zé Pilintra Brazilian musician and composer, Itamar Assumpção, wrote a song about Zé Pilintra in 1988, with Wally Salomão as composing partner, named "Zé Pilintra". Brazilian

samba Samba () is a broad term for many of the rhythms that compose the better known Brazilian music genres that originated in the Afro-Brazilians, Afro Brazilian communities of Bahia in the late 19th century and early 20th century, It is a name or ...

composer and singer, Bezerra da Silva, recorded a song about Zé Pilintra in 1976 on his album ''O Rei do Côco'', named "Segura a Viola (Zé Pilintra)" (Hold the Guitar, Zé Pilintra).

References

Brazilian deities Trickster gods Umbanda {{Brazil-myth-stub