Social representations of Omolokô as formers of the social identity of its adepts

Abstract

Studying the identity of practitioners of Afro-Brazilian religions, such as Omolokô, is extremely important, it enables knowledge, providing a space for resistance and identity affirmation, as well as the preservation of ancestral traditions. Social representations and social identity go hand in hand. It is a continuous process of self-affirmation, appreciation and cultural resistance. The study aims to describe the structure of social representations about Omolokô, constructed by his followers. The social relevance of this study is centered on the fact that by giving voice to these subjects, the opportunity to learn about their desires, fears, images, difficulties, attitudes, barriers and feelings arises. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach supported by the theory of the central nucleus (TNC) of social representations, carried out in 05 Omolokô terriers located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, with 106 participants. In our results, we found the affective and imagery dimension permeating the identity of this group, establishing conditions for them to exercise their religion and at the same time, give meaning to life, in an impetus that is common to all people. Thus, we recognize faith as one of the expressions of spirituality, being involved in this search and offering possibilities for such discovery. The process of reaffirming this cultural identity continues to this day, leading followers of Omolokô and other Afro-descendant religions to maintain feelings of respect, a welcoming relationship and peace.

Keywords: Social representation; Omolokô; Identity.