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Matachindé

View on the Pragda STREAM site

Eight hours from the bustling urban center of Buenaventura lies the remote village of Juntas de Yurumanguí, an Afro-descendant community that has maintained autonomy over its religious practices for generations. Each year, the community celebrates Holy Week, an event that transcends the boundaries of conventional clerical authority. Here, the blend of Catholicism and indigenous spiritual elements creates a unique form of worship, reflecting the rich syncretic traditions passed down through centuries of resistance.

This documentary not only captures the profound spiritual significance of these ceremonies but also serves as a window into the community’s struggle for sovereignty in the face of historical and social pressures. Scholars of religious studies, African diaspora studies, and post-colonialism will find this work an invaluable resource in understanding how marginalized communities navigate the complexities of faith, autonomy, and identity in a post-colonial world.

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