Iemanja Rainha do Mar

Umbanda (as a musical style) refers to the sung prayers and drum-centered rhythms that accompany the Afro‑Brazilian Umbanda religion, founded in the early 20th century. In temples (terreiros), these songs—known as pontos cantados—invoke deities (Orixás) and spiritual guides (such as caboclos and pretos‑velhos) through call‑and‑response choruses, steady hand‑drumming, and rattles and bells. Musically, Umbanda blends West/Central African drumming logics with Portuguese‑language sacred poetry and elements from Catholic hymnody and Kardecist Spiritism. Texts are short, repetitive, and functional: they open works, salute entities, cleanse space, and guide spirit incorporation. Tempos range from meditative to danceable, and harmony (when guitars or keyboards are used) stays simple so the ritual pulse and voices remain paramount.