Rio de Janeiro witnessed a historic moment this past weekend as millions of Brazilians flooded the streets for the 2025 Marcha para Jesus (March for Jesus),not only in celebration of Christian faith but also in a groundbreaking demonstration of religious tolerance, unity, and cultural recognition. For the first time on such a massive scale, practitioners of Afro-Brazilian religions including Candomblé, Umbanda, and traditional Ifá—joined hands with the Christian faithful in the grand procession. It was a powerful stand against religious intolerance in Latin America’s largest and most religiously diverse nation.
The annual march, which has become a hallmark of Brazil’s evangelical Christian community, drew massive crowds from across the country. But this year, it was distinguished by the striking presence of Babalorixás, Babalawos, and Orisa devotees in traditional white attire. Some bore sacred objects such as Opa Osùn staffs, beaded necklaces, and ritual instruments—walking peacefully beside pastors, gospel singers, and evangelical youth waving flags that read “Jesus é o Senhor” (Jesus is Lord). The streets echoed with the intermingling of sacred words: Axé and Aleluia carried together through the city’s arteries, uniting what had long been divided.
Brazil, home to the second-largest population of African descent in the world after Nigeria, has a deep and complex religious history. While Christianity is dominant, the country also harbors one of the richest legacies of African spiritual systems outside of the continent. Despite this, followers of Orisa-based faiths have long faced persecution, stigma, and attacks—particularly in impoverished neighborhoods where intolerance, misinformation, and evangelical extremism have fueled acts of violence against terreiros (temples), priests, and sacred objects.
“This year, we marched not only for Christ, but for peace,” said Mãe Lucia d’Oxum, a revered Candomblé priestess from Salvador. “We want the world to see that our faiths are not in conflict. The divine speaks in many languages—through the words of Jesus, the waters of Oxum, and the crossroads of Èṣù.” Organizers of the March for Jesus, including Pastor Eliel da Silva, emphasized that the true message of Christ is love and inclusion. “Christ walked with the marginalized and the misunderstood. He embraced the tax collector, the sick, and the Samaritan. Today, we embrace our brothers and sisters from the Afro-Brazilian faiths. Brazil is ready to heal.”
The event was not without criticism. Some hardline evangelical voices expressed discomfort over the inclusion of non-Christian spiritual symbols. But the overwhelming mood on the ground was one of solidarity, curiosity, and mutual blessing. At one emotional moment, a group of young Pentecostal singers paused to allow a traditional Candomblé drumming ensemble to offer a ritual salute to the ancestors—acknowledging sacred presence on the land they all walked upon.
While the March for Jesus is one of Brazil’s most visible religious celebrations, the nation is also increasingly recognizing the importance of preserving and celebrating Afro-Brazilian spirituality. Notably, Brazil now officially holds an annual Marcha para Èṣù—a peaceful procession honoring the Yoruba deity of crossroads, communication, and transitions. Once demonized under colonial and missionary influence, Èṣù has been reinterpreted through the lens of Afro-Brazilian scholarship and cultural advocacy as a guardian of moral justice and spiritual balance.
The Marcha para Èṣù, held in cities such as Salvador, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, is not only a spiritual event but also a cultural and political act. In 2023, the Brazilian government officially recognized the march as “Patrimônio Cultural Imaterial do Brasil”—an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This status elevates the march to the level of national identity, safeguarding it from erasure and ensuring support for its continuation. According to the Ministry of Culture and the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), the designation of the March for Èṣù as cultural heritage is part of a broader movement to confront Brazil’s history of religious racism and colonial trauma. By honoring Èṣù publicly, Brazil not only reclaims a vital part of its African heritage but also reaffirms the constitutional right to religious freedom.
“The march for Èṣù and the March for Jesus are not contradictions,” said Dr. Marina Teixeira, an anthropologist at the Federal University of Bahia. “They are complementary affirmations of Brazil’s plural soul. Both speak of paths, crossroads, sacrifice, redemption, and the human desire for connection with the divine. Together, they offer a new vision for a country that has for too long been divided by ignorance and fear.” The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship released a statement commending the joint presence of Christian and traditionalist groups in Rio’s march: “This is the Brazil we believe in—diverse, vibrant, and united. When millions come together not just to celebrate their faith but to honor each other’s right to believe differently, we are witnessing democracy at its deepest level.”
As twilight bathed the city in golden light and the chants of Jesus and the Orixás merged into the twilight air, a powerful symbol was born. The 2024 March for Christ, reinforced by the growing national respect for Afro-Brazilian religious practices, may be remembered as the moment when Brazil began to fully embrace its sacred plurality—no longer a nation torn between past and present, but one walking together toward a more just and inclusive spiritual future.
