FESTA NOSSA SENHORA DA BOA MORTE FESTIVAL

Fest Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte (Order of Our Lady of the Good Death)

The Festa Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte A.K.A. Boa Morte Festival is an incredible event to witness!  The Irmandade da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte means Order of our Lady of the Good Death.  It is a Candomble sorority that has been going strong for nearly two hundred years.

Once every year the sisterhood of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte holds an event where the Virgin Mary is marched through the town while festivities celebrating this colorful event take place.  (read below for more info)

I have witnessed the Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte Festival and it was very impressive.  People from all over the world come to this small town called Cachoeira to witness this event.  Click this link if you would like to attend this wonderful event.

This article can be found @ Wikipedia here.

The Order of Our Lady of the Good Death (Irmandade da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte) is a small but renowned Afro-Catholic religious group in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

Founded in the early 19th century as a Church-sponsored beneficent Sisterhood for female African slaves and former slaves, it became one of the oldest and most respected worship groups for Candomblé, the major African-based religion in Brazil. Presently reduced to about thirty members (from 200 or so at its height), most of them over fifty, it still attracts worshipers every year, especially at its August festival.

History of the Festa Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte A.K.A. Boa Morte Festival

The history of the Irmandade da Boa Morte ("Sisterhood of the Good Death"), a religious confraternity devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin, is part of the history of mass importation of blacks from the African coast to the cane-growing catchment area around the port of Salvador, Bahia, known as the Recôncavo Baiano. Iberian adventurers built several towns in this area, one of them being Cachoeira, which was the second most important economic center in Bahia for three centuries.

Orishá Statues at Dique Do Tororo | Orixás Candomble in Bahia Brasil

The orishá live in Bahia, Brasil. They are alive and well. This is especially evident in Salvador, the state capital of Bahia. Depictions of the orishá (orixás alt. spelling), are found in the various ruas (streets) and plazas of Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. They are literally visible throughout the city.  The Orishá are the deities of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomble.

One example is the painted mermaid statue in the neighborhood of Rio Vermelho associated with Yemanja, mother goddess figure, which overlooks the sea. Another example is the statue of Exu, the orishá who manages all types of communication and guardian of the crossroads, which is located, fittingly, in front of Salvador’s central correiro (post office).

One of the most impressive depictions of the orishá, however, is located on a big lake and recreation park in the middle of the city called Dique do Tororo, which contains a group of orishá statues dancing in a circle on the surface of the water. Dique do Tororo looks just as impressive as it sounds.

Throughout this article you will see photos taken by my wife while visiting Dique do Tororo with a friend. She took a boat tour that is available daily for only $20 reais. We definitely recommend the boat tour for anyone visiting Bahia, Brasil. Be sure to check out our Bahia Tour site to schedule any tours in Bahia.


First let’s talk a little about "The Most African City of Brazil", Salvador, Bahia.