Ogan, in the Candomblé (an Afro-Brazilian religion) tradition,

is the one who plays the atabaques (ritual drums).

There are three atabaques (Run, Run Pi &Lé) and it`s their sounds that call the orixás (gods) and make them dance.

Playing one of the atabaques requires some skills.

The ogan is chosen by his orixá (his personal deity),

and must be confined for 2 weeks, learning and meditating, before he is "released", in a public ceremony that looks like a graduation.

These images show the ceremony in which a new ogan is presented to his community,

in a terreiro (temple) called Ylê Asé Babá Funfun, in Rio. 

84 chickens and 3 goats were sacrificed for this ritual

(their blood subsequently being offered to the gods, and the meat cooked and eaten).

During the ritual, the leader and some members of the community go into a trance-like state,

while they dance wearing their ceremonial white dresses.

The lighting was beautiful, yet not really bright enough for shots without a tripod -

though I believe that the blurry images portray the intensity of the movements.  

The new ogan, a 14 years old boy, and his Mom,

who invited us for the ceremony.

Rio de Janeiro, October 10th 2009                                                                                                     Obrigado, Rita!