Holy Harlots This page intentionally left blank Holy Harlots Femininity, Sexuality, and Black Magic in Brazil Kelly E. Hayes university of california press Berkeley • Los Angeles • London University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more informa- tion, visit www .ucpress. edu . University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, En gland © 2011 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data Hayes, Kelly E., 1968– Holy harlots : femininity, sexuality, and black magic in Brazil / Kelly E. Hayes. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978- 0- 520-2 6264- 5 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978- 0- 520-2 6265- 2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Pomba-G ira. 2. Afro-B razilian cults— Brazil. 3. Brazil—R eligious life and customs. I. Title. BL2590.B7H39 2011 306.6'996121140981—dc22 2010046166 Manufactured in the United States of America 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on Cascades Enviro 100, a 100% post consumer waste, recycled, de-i nked fi ber. FSC recycled certifi ed and proc essed chlorine free. It is acid free, Ecologo certifi ed, and manufactured by BioGas energy. To CAC Thank you for everything you have ever done, but most of all for bringing me along on this world- record journey of happiness. This page intentionally left blank Contents Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi part one. introduction: wicked women and femmes fatales 1. Wicked Women and Femmes Fatales 3 2. Pomba Gira and the Religious Imagination 38 part two. society: the urban periphery 3. Life on the Margins 71 4. Sexuality, Morality, and the Logic of Gender 95 part three. discourse: stories about pomba gira 5. Becoming a Zelador 117 6. Spiritual Defenders and Protectors 141 7. Maria Molambo’s Revenge 158 part four. practice: working with pomba gira 8. If God Is All Good, Then Only the Devi l Can Combat Evil 175 9. Balancing Human and Spirit Worlds 201 Notes 225 Bibliography 265 Index 289 This page intentionally left blank Illustrations 1. Pomba Gira statues / 5 2. Nazaré dressed as Pomba Gira / 12 3. Statues of various exus / 21 4. Statue of a preto velho / 23 5. Statue of a caboclo / 24 6. Pomba Gira of the Seven Crossroads / 39 7. Large red Pomba Gira statue / 40 8. Pomba Gira products / 41 9. Statue of Maria Molambo / 45 10. Statue of Pomba Gira with fl ames / 50 11. Statue of Pomba Gira on a coffi n / 52 12. Statue of Zé Pilintra / 56 13. Nazaré as Maria Molambo / 63 14. Acari / 75 15. Assentamentos / 7 9 16. Nazaré and her young est son / 126 17. Ebó (food offering) / 1 80 18. Sign in Rio advertising spiritual works / 183 ix