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Sacred Trees in Afro-Brazilian religions

Between the end of the XVIII and XIX Centuries many Africans landed on Brazilian shores and brought with them aspects of their own culture which fused, adapted and co-existed with the religion of their new homeland. The book "Sacred Trees in Afro-Brazilian religions" (O Encanto das Árvores nas religiões afro-brasileiras) will exalt the African botanical heritage brought to Brazil by generations of slaves. It will be the first of five books focusing on sacred elements in Afro-Brazilian religions.

Corporate Return

The corporate sponsor's name will feature in the opening pages of the book. Further text will elucidate on the company's commitment to the country's cultural, historical and educational development.

The press will be made aware of such corporate support of the project, and will be invited to participate in the book launch and exhibition set for April 3, 2001 at the British Center, in the neighborhood of Pinheiros

Both the book and exhibition project can process donations through the Minister of Culture's Rouanet Law. This offers a diversion of up to 4% of tax owed to the government to any project approved under this Law.

Reason for Project

The book "Sacred Trees in Afro-Brazilian religions" has a special meaning as the new millenium begins; paying homage to the role played by African descendants in Brazil in the creation and preservation of aspects of nature that so enrich the lives of Brazilians today.

Religions of African origin spark curiosity, instigating, fascinating and questioning our own beliefs and affording us a vision of a world which has been of fundamental importance to Brazil's identity and formation.

Book Structure

The book will unite photographs gathered over five years extensive field research, on trees, thrones, drums, wooden artifacts, crowns, clothes and other articles associated with trees. Many of these items have never been photographed before, and provide a vital record of undeniable educational and ecological value. The study took place in São Paulo & Santos (SP), Rio de Janeiro & Nova Iguaçu (RJ), Cachoeira (BA), Laranjeiras & Aracaju (SE), Recife & Olinda (PE) São Luís (MA), Salvador & Itaparica(BA), and Belo Horizonte (MG).

The text will further highlight the specific ways in which trees are used and worshipped in the different types of Afro-Brazilian religions, from Angola (Candomblé Bantu) the People's Republic of Benin (Candomblé Mina-Jeje) and from Nigeria: (Candomblé Ketu-Nagô) as well as a Brazilian religion that gained shape in the 30's in Rio de Janeiro and borrows from African systems of worship (Umbanda).

Book Characteristics:

Closed: 23x 32 cm

Opened: 46 x 32 cm

Page numbers: 96

Pages of text: 25 in Portuguese - can do English too...

Photographs:90

Paper : phoenix imperial branco semi-fosco, 115 gr, Scheufelen - Vivox

Print: 4 x 4 cores

Cover: cartão superior 250 gr.

Print-run: 3 thousand copies

Target Audience

São Paulo's newspaper, "O Estado de São Paulo" published recently a study in Economia & Negócios estimating that the Afro-Brazilian religious articles market is worth an estimated US$ 500 million, per annum. Sponsorship of the project will bring the sponsor in contact with this consumer group.

The book will also present invaluable information to people seeking a greater understanding of Brazilian Flora, as well as being of specific interest to anthropologists, historians, teachers and pupils in various disciplinary areas, and opinion-makers in general.

Stages of Execution

1 Initial Stages (weeks 1 to 2)

2 Photographic selection (weeks 3 to 4)

4 Text (weeks 4 to 6)

5 Preparation of text and photos (weeks 6 to 8)

6 Final graphic project (weeks 9 to 12)

8 Printing plates (weeks 12 to 15)

9 Printing and assemblage (weeks 16 to 22)

10 Distribution (weeks 23 to 25)

Distribution

Of the 3,000 book print run, 500 have to, by law, be sent to libraries and educational institutions throughout the country. The other 150 may be sent to the press, and the remaining 2,350 books made available to sponsors. These will receive a book for every R$15,00 they donate (a 100% tax-deductible cost of R$00,00, when under 4% owed tax) For more information contact Ministério de Cultura, (Internet: cg4.htm at www.minc.gov.br, or call (011) 539-6304)