Brazilian popular singer Claudia Leitte is being formally investigated by the Ministério Público do Estado da Bahia (Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bahia) after a complaint was filed accusing her of discriminatory conduct and possible religious racism. The case centers on an alteration she made to the lyrics of her song Caranguejo (Cata Caranguejo) during a live performance. In the original version, the song includes the line “Saudando a rainha Iemanjá” ,a salute to the Orisa Iemanjá, a central figure in Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda.
During a show in Salvador, Bahia, Leitte substituted that phrase with “Eu canto meu Rei Yeshua” — referencing “Yeshua,” the Hebrew name for Jesus , reflecting her personal Christian faith. Her decision to make this change, particularly within an Axé Music context historically tied to Afro-Brazilian culture, sparked significant controversy online and among cultural figures.
The complaint was filed by Iyálòrísá Jaciara Ribeiro , a priestess and cultural leader , together with the Instituto de Defesa dos Direitos das Religiões Afro-Brasileiras (Institute for the Defense of the Rights of Afro-Brazilian Religions, IDAFRO). They argue that removing the reference to Yemanja , which they characterize as a protected cultural and religious symbol , and replacing it with a Christian reference could constitute an act of discriminatory conduct against Afro-Brazilian religious traditions.
In response, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bahia’s Promotoria de Justiça de Combate ao Racismo e à Intolerância Religiosa (Office for Combating Racism and Religious Intolerance) officially opened a civil inquiry to investigate the allegations and determine whether Leitte’s actions violated cultural and religious rights. The investigation is being overseen by promoter Lívia Sant’Anna Vaz.
Supporters of the complaint argue that the removal of a reference to Yemanja , an important Orisa in Afro-Brazilian religions from a popular song with deep cultural roots has broader social implications, potentially contributing to the marginalization of Afro-Brazilian religious traditions. Salvador’s Secretary of Culture and Tourism publicly criticized the change as a form of disrespect to the culture and heritage of Afro-Brazilian religions.
In December 2025, reports indicate that the Public Prosecutor’s Office has taken the case further by filing a civil action that seeks a multimillion-real indemnity against Claudia Leitte, alleging discrimination and harm to collective cultural interests as a result of the lyric change.
“ Yemanja is not a symbol to be rebranded according to convenience — she is an ancestral presence rooted in the memory of our people here in Brazil. She came with our foremothers and forefathers across the waters, carried in prayer, in drum, in silence, and in resistance. To call her by another name that does not belong to her tradition is not dialogue — it is erasure. We respect every faith that walks its own path with dignity. But respect must be mutual. Our heritage is not an extension of another religion, and our sacred names are not interchangeable. Yemanjá is Yemanjá. She is mother of waters, guardian of life, and a pillar of Afro-Brazilian spiritual identity. To rename her as Jesus is to deny the history, suffering, and resilience through which this tradition survived. If you are Christian, honor Jesus with devotion, with love, with integrity — but do not overwrite what is not yours. Spiritual coexistence does not require substitution; it requires recognition. Our ancestors preserved these traditions so that we would not forget who we are. We will not allow that memory to be diluted in the name of comfort or assimilation. Just as the drums of Carnival now echo the reverence of the Òrìṣà — like the homage to Òṣun you’ve been highlighting and the sacred strength reflected in the Ala das Baianas — so too does Yemanjá remain a living heritage. She is not metaphor, not decoration, not translation. She is our inheritance, our continuity, our sacred origin.Respect is simple: walk your path with faith, and allow us to walk ours with the same dignity.” Says Iyálòrísá Ajekemi Mariana
Leitte has publicly addressed the controversy, stating that issues around racism and respect for cultural traditions deserve serious discussion, and that she values respect, solidarity, and integrity — though she has defended her personal religious expression in performance.
