ABSTRACT
A great proportion of Afro-Brazilians currently live in quilombos and are referred to as Quilombolas. Many Afro-Brazilians live in poverty in the urban deprived areas and slums that surround the major cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian returnees brought back aspects of their culture, further encouraging the merging of South American and African culture. The African oral tradition of storytelling and history preservation remains very important in Afro-Brazilian culture. The white dress is to represent the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomble, as the white symbolises Oxala, one of the gods of Candomble. Afro-Brazilian music accompanies foxes, dance groups that perform to music of the Candomble religion. Dancing, music and prayer remind Afro-Brazilians of their slave ancestors. After slavery was abolished, capoeira was outlawed due to fear that Afro-Brazilians would use martial arts against the ruling class. Afro-Brazilian food combines African, Portuguese and indigenous (native) ingredients and cooking traditions.
