Traditional Brazilian Black Magic

Traditional Brazilian Black Magic is a guide to the history and practice of Kimbanda, the black magic tradition of Brazil.

This book explains how Kimbanda’s presiding deity, Eshu, embodies both masculine and feminine principles, acting as both god and devil. Eshu thus represents human nature itself, encompassing all its vices and virtues. Diego de Oxóssi discusses Kimbanda’s magical practices, initiation rites, sacred knives, and sacrificial offerings.

The author details the seven realms and the entities that inhabit and govern each of them. Although demonised as a form of Satanic cult, Kimbanda, the tradition of Afro-Brazilian black magic, is a spiritual practice that embraces both the light and dark aspects of life through the worship of the entities known as Eshu and Pombajira.

Exploring the history and practice of Kimbanda, also known as Quimbanda, the author builds a timeline from the emergence of Afro-Brazilian religions in the 17th century, when African slaves were first brought to Brazil. He explores the development of Orisha cults and the formation of Candomblé, Batuque, Macumba, and Umbanda religious practices, up to the modern codification of Kimbanda by Mãe Ieda do Ogum in the 1960s. He explains how Eshu Mayoral embodies both god and devil aspects, representing human nature with all its virtues and vices.

Discussing Kimbanda’s spiritual landscape, the author describes the seven realms, each with nine dominions, and the entities that inhabit and govern each of them. The book delves into spirit possession and Kimbanda’s sacrificial practices, performed to honour and obtain the blessing of the seven realms' entities. It covers the sacred knives and their roles, the 16 zimba symbols and sigils used to attract spirits, and the traditional enchantment songs to summon and work with these spirits.

Offering an accessible guide to Kimbanda, this book reveals why this religion remains popular. It acknowledges the dark and light sides of human morality and provides a method for interacting with deities to achieve direct results.

Diego de Oxóssi, a Chief of Kimbanda and Orishas Priest, has devoted over 20 years to researching and teaching about pagan and African-Brazilian religions through courses, lectures, and workshops. He writes a weekly column at CoreSpirit.com and is the publisher at Arole Cultural. He resides in São Paulo, Brazil.