Museu de Arte da Bahia hosts ‘Flores Que Curam’ exhibition

The Museu de Arte da Bahia (MAB) in Salvador has inaugurated the exhibition ‘Flores Que Curam’ (Flowers That Heal). The showcase is dedicated to Omolu, an orixá associated with healing, health, and transformation within African-matrix religious traditions.

Organized into six modules, the exhibition explores various aspects of Omolu’s presence, including his role in the diaspora, healing knowledge, and narratives of faith. It features photographic records of the Sabejé—a public healing ritual—and the ‘Ritual Omolu’ parade, which emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic as a manifestation of solidarity among Candomblé houses.

A central element of the display is ‘deburu’ (popcorn), which holds symbolic and spiritual significance in rituals dedicated to Omolu, representing purification and renewal. The exhibition was developed with the participation of several terreiros, including Ilê Axé Obá Afonjá Alafin Oyó and Unzó Mutalecí Raízes da Gomeia. Curated by Antônio Marcos de Oliveira Passos and coordinated by Júnior Aficodé, the exhibition is free to the public and runs until September 12.