The march “for peace and religious tolerance” will take place next Saturday between Rossio and the church of Santo António, in Lisbon. The associations hope to attract more than a thousand people.
This Saturday, the group of Portuguese-speaking associations will hold a “march for people’s peace” between Rossio and the Church of Santo António, passing through Terreiro do Paço, in Lisbon, a source from the organization told Lusa.
“It will be a march for religious tolerance, for respect for identity and culture, and for love, which people need and which we do with great joy.”said Adélia Pauferro, a member of Ayô, the Brazilian Association of Art and Culture, which organizes the event.
The event, which the organization called Batucadas do Santo – Walk for Peace, is taking place for the second consecutive year and is a celebration of the syncretism of Saint Anthony, considered as Exú, Ogum and Xangô in Afro-Brazilian mythology.
The organisers plan to start the gathering of an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people in Rossio, starting at 11:30 a.m., with the march starting at 1:00 p.m. and culminating in a religious service at the Church of Santo António three hours later.
“We are counting on the presence of illustrious guests from the University of Baía, we will gather in Rossio more than 40 drummers from all over Europe and we will go out in procession to the Church of Santo António, where an ecumenical service will be held,” explained Pauferro.
“Last year, more than three thousand people participated”he added.
The march was organized by 36 cultural groups and associations and has the support of the Santo António Museum in Lisbon, where the exhibition “Dialogues of Fire: Exú, Ogum and Xangô” is being held from August 15 to September 30. Saint Anthony in Afro-Brazilian mythology”, with works by photographer Edgar de Souza and Bahian orixá painter Ed Ribeiro.
Source: Observadora
