The Iemanjá Festival is one of the main festivals of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. Iemanjá, sometimes spelled Yemanjá, is the Cadomblé goddess–or orixá–of the sea and the mother of many other orixás.

Candomblé is a religious system with African roots that originated in Brazil, first practiced by African slaves brought to the country during colonial times. It is an amalgamation of several different African traditions, such as Yoruba, Bantu, and Fon, as well as some European and indigenous Brazilian influences. Iemanjá is one of the principal deities of Candomblé. She is the goddess of the sea, mother of many other gods, and her powers largely determine an individual’s fate.

The Iemenjá Festival is a three-day celebration, from January 31 through February 2. The Festival takes place throughout the Brazilian coast, with the largest celebration on Rio Vermelho beach in the city of Salvador, Bahia. During the first two days of the festival, various rituals are performed to honor Yemanjá, such as parades, offerings of flowers and food, and songs and ceremonies in her honor. The third day features an all-night party with live music and dancing. The festivities typically start around sunset, lasting until sunrise the next morning.

Candomblé practitioners taking gifts to Iamanjá. Rio Vermelho Beach.

Festivities also include parades featuring dancers dressed in colorful costumes accompanied by drums and percussion instruments. The whole city comes alive with traditional food stands selling snacks like acarajé (a bean fritter) and bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish balls). There are also stalls with handcrafted items such as jewelry, clothing, and other souvenirs related to Iemanjá. As you can imagine, it’s quite an exciting event that draws visitors from near and far who want to experience this unique part of Brazilian culture!

A group of Candomblé practicioners honoring Iemanjá. Photo: Joa Souza