O uso da voz no Candomblé: um estudo autoetnográfico

Abstract

Introduction: The use of voice by religious people has been studied by speech therapists, although still incipient. Particularly in Candomblé, the situation is aggravated by a single recently published study. Objective: to reflect on the use of voice by Candomblé practitioners during a public ceremony. Methodology: a qualitative, autoethnographic, retrospective study on the use of voice by the Alagbês during a public Candomblé ceremony at Ilê Axé Odé Yeye Ibomin. An autoethnography was carried out based on mnemonic data from the main author on Candomblé rituals. Results: the Alagbês use their voices intensely and continuously, in ceremonies that can last from 4 to 12 hours. This celebration is usually divided into two distinct moments (xirê and rum dos orixás). Often, the Alagbês do not maintain adequate systemic hydration and exert vocal effort associated with physical effort, since they also play the atabaques simultaneously (a factor that increases vocal demand). The volume of these instruments also needs to be exceeded, which leads the ogã leading the chants to use an even higher vocal intensity, so that he can be heard by everyone present. These behaviors, so necessary to the performance of this religiosity, are considered harmful to the voice, according to scientific literature. Conclusion: given the results of the intense use of the voice in Candomblé rituals, characterizing the population as vocally dependent, it is up to Speech Therapy to develop ways to support the vocal health of Candomblé people, without thereby distorting the ancestral foundations of the religiosity.