At the age of 81 , Iyalorisa Maria Aparecida, the Iyagunã Dalzira, a Candomblé traditionalist , a version of the Yoruba traditional religion , is preparing to defend her doctoral thesis at the federal university of Parana , Brazil
The Yoruba traditionalist , an Afro-Brazilian from Minas Gerais , Iyagunã Dalzira started school at the age of 47 in the “Youth and Adult Education program, ‘EJA’ “ . At 63, she started a course in International Relations. At 72, she defended her master’s degree at the Federal University of technology in Paraná , Brazil
More than a Doctor or Iyalorisa , Yá is today a personality of the black movement. The daughter of a rural worker and a maid who arrived Paraná as a child in the 1950s. “My father dreamed of having his piece of land to plant coffee , the ‘black gold’ as he called it”, she said
“My father worked under a terrible regime, half of all production must be delivered to the boss . They never had any employment relationship or labor rights , they were like slaves “ she explained
“The place we lived was a quilombo, there was only one white family in the vicinity. As a child, i was not a victim of racism . I had no idea of what racism was . As a teenager, however, the experience began to change . I started seeing the difference in race and colors “ – Ya said she went in company of a white friend to a convent to find how they could both become nuns . Upon hearing the interest from her , the nun who received them fell silent , she said that only her friend could join the convent . “ You’re pretty dark, aren’t you?” – The Nun exclaimed
According to her , the episode left a deep impression on her. “I carried that pain alone for many years , i didn’t talk to my parents or anyone . It hurt me so much , i started to question my Christian faith. Why is God so cruel? Why did you create blacks and whites? Why do you allow this?” – She exclaimed
Already an adult, at the very age of 27 , and during the military dictatorship in Brazil , Iyagunã Dalzira moved with her family to Curitiba , there she was invited to participate in a movement linked to the Catholic Church in defense of the black population. She accepted immediately and became a member of the nucleus that would result in the “União e Consciência Negra “ The Black Consciousness and Unity Movement.
Although Curitiba’s racism was camouflaged, veiled “ We rarely heard aggressive expressions.” -She said
Iyalorisa Iyagunã Dalzira who sings and praises Orunmila-Ifa in her talks , has never married, she adopted seven children ; two girls and five boys. “The big challenge in this endeavor was to educate them. Not for the education itself, but for the educators who could not work with poor, black, marginal children . They did not understand that they were rebels precisely because they were marginalized” She explained
Now a PHD , and a title of doctor in Brazil , the Iyalorisa intends to contribute more to the reconstruction of a better world, with less hate, violence and more love and understanding. “We will always be black, but let us not be hated for being black.” – The Iyalorisas concluded .
