Residência, terreiro e a ONG: um estudo sobre a identidade na Casa de Cultura Ilé Asé D'Osoguiã

Abstract

This dissertation work presents reflections and analyzes about the discussion on Afro- Brazilian identity in an NGO context. The research sought to analyze the constructions of relations and representativeness of Afro-Brazilian identity at the Casa de Cultura Ilê Asé D'Osoguiã. We sought to understand how the experiences in the Casa de Cultura space favor or not the discussion about black identity and the immersion in the religious-volunteer relationship. From there, the following challenges to be answered emerge in this work: How are the identity processes built at the Casa de Cultura Ilé Asé D‟Osoguiã and what are the forms of representation and resistance? How do discussions about cultural identity appear at the Casa de Cultura? How does Casa de Cultura work with themes that relate to identity and blackness? Therefore, the objective is to analyze the construction of ethnic and cultural identity at the Casa de Cultura Ilé Asé D´Osoguiã. To this end, having as target audience the directors of the house, employees and mothers of the children and young people assisted by the Casa de Cultura Ilê Asé de D‟osoguiã. As methodological procedures, the ethnographic method, bibliographic research and semi-structured interviews were carried out with eleven participating subjects: four mothers, two leaders and five management and coordination employees. The research showed a strong influence of Afro-Brazilian culture represented through religiosity, essentially, candomblé. We observed that, despite the religious character, the Casa de Cultura does not only serve followers of religions of African origin, promoting assistance actions for the entire surrounding community. The interviews with the mothers of the beneficiaries showed that the religious issue is not an obstacle or stimulus to participate in the Casa de Cultura, since they know the religious practices and do not consider that this hinders the educational actions carried out in the place. However, we observed that the Casa de Cultura is not exempt from the stigma that spaces of African religions carry, which was registered through the interviewees' speech. We concluded that there is a triad that brought together a terreiro, Casa de Cultura and the residence of the leaders, this triad permeates all the decisions and actions that the space, as an NGO, has to take. Thus, it is possible to note that the desire of its leaders to promote Afro-Brazilian culture, the search for empowerment and social actions arises from the religious root.