BETWEEN DREAM AND AWAKENESS:
Adenor Gondim: série "Cãos de Jacobina"

The beings in these photos are part of the off-season carnival group, Cãos de Jacobina (dogs from Jacobina), from the city of Jacobina in the interior of Bahia. Created at mid-1940, by Valdemar Pereira da Conceição, the popular Fecha Beco. The manifestation brings the colors, symbols and images associated with Exu. Important Orixá, divinity of African Candomblé, which is often demonized by Europeans and Christian religions. The block was originally a form of protest against the end of Carnival and the beginning of Lent, when parties were prohibited by Catholics during this period.

The cultural group was almost disappearing when the Jacobina Culture Coordination revived the demonstration and held several presentations at events in the city. Today Os Cãos is part of the culture of Bahia and a notable presence, not only in the city, but at events in the capital, Salvador.

A whole story is told in a real open-air theater. There are around 40 men who paint themselves black with a mixture made from edible oil and checkered paint, red lipstick, horns and artificial teeth. The main characters of the allegory are the angel Gabriel, Alma, Pelada (woman of the Dogs), Zé Pilintra (character inspired by the Umbanda entity, Brazilian religion, symbol of trickery and bohemia). The angel Gabriel descends to Earth to save Alma, who is being harassed by the Dogs – which symbolize the temptation of Carnival. Anyway, it's a great game in which a battle between Heaven and Hell takes place while men say goodbye to Carnival and prepare for Christian Lent.