Orun-Aiye

Orun Aiyé comes to rescue the entire tradition of African culture, so important in the syncretism and religious culture of the Brazilian people.

The Nagô-Yoruba culture arrived in Brazil through African slaves and was always severely repressed by the influence of the Catholic Church. Therefore, all songs, rituals, and prayers were transmitted orally among initiates. Orun Aiyé is the record of years of research by the author and begins by presenting basic explanations of Yoruba writing and pronunciation. Presenting the general belief system, starting with the religious concepts of God and the Universe, and leading to explanations of hierarchical functions and positions, Beniste's work delves deeper into the songs and prayers of Candomblé initiates, rediscovering the origins and beliefs of their African roots.

According to Beniste, "in the field of Afro-Brazilian studies, there is always a tendency to make research conform to a preconceived theory. There is also a tendency to assume something as true without adequate investigation. And this applies to those who study the customs and science of peoples who live in worlds of ideas and beliefs different from those in which they were educated. The same occurs with what is called the 'inside of Candomblé.' To understand it, it is necessary to go to these people, meet them, see them as they really are; to enter into their senses in solidarity to know what they think, and not what we think these people should think and believe."