According to the Map of religions, recently published by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), the number of people who declared themselves to be umbandistas represents 0.23% of Brazil’s population. In ...

A mounted knight is displayed on the altar in Rita Coccaro's home. Penn State University/MCT Rita Coccaro is the high priestess of the Umbanda Temple of Caboclo Virgin Forest, if “temple” is not too ...

Researchers from the federal and state universities of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN and UERN), working together with religious leaders, created a website to preserve historical records of Umbanda places ...

RIO DE JANEIRORIO DE JANEIRO — Rosa Cardoso has practiced the Afro-Brazilian religion of Umbanda almost all of her 89 years, yet she hasn’t stopped hiding her faith from the rest of the world. The ...

AP Photo/Felipe Dana-In this photo taken on Nov. 25, 2011, Umbanda worshippers participate in the ‘Exu’ and ‘Pomba Gira’ ceremony at an Umbanda house of worship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Intolerance ...

Followers of Afro-Brazilian religions have been displaced by New Year’s revelers. But they still find ways to make their offerings to the ocean. Carrying offerings to the sea on Friday in Rio de ...

A practitioner of the Afro-Brazilian religion Umbanda raises her hands while cleaning the spirit of another worshipper in Rio de Janeiro. Jack Chang / MCT RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Before the drums and ...

Marriages celebrated under Umbanda and Candomblé religious rites are now officially recognized in the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro as per Law 11.058/25, penned by legislator Átila Nunes of the ...

The Cabocla Jurema Umbanda Temple outside Brasilia was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in January. But, on Christmas Day, it was burned to the ground and all its sacred items stolen. This ...