Jose Goncalves captures Afro Brazilians’ tributes to their ancestors and deities through celebrations and festivals on canvas and sculpture . Enslaved Africans that were shipped to Brazil arrived with their culture and a sense of identity that could not be erased. Through the resilience of this cultural memory, and the resonance of African Spiritualities in the Americas, the tie that binds continental Africans to Brazilians remains strong.

In the 18th century in Bahia, Brazil female descendants of enslaved Africans founded Irmandade de Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of Our Lady of the Good Death) to purchase the freedom of the rest of the enslaved communities, and preserve their African traditions. The sisterhood named themselves… because they defined a “Good Death” as a human being who is able “to die free of the bonds of slavery.” to “Our Lady they pledged eternal devotion and promised an annual festival in her honor if she could cause an end to the evil scourge of slavery.

The majority of the sisters remained devotees of the orishas (deities). The sisterhood’s rituals were similar to Catholicism and its veneration of saints, allowing the enslaved to outwardly pay homage to their own deities while paying respect to the Catholic saints. These practices were and continue to be strongest in Bahia where the rituals were organized into the house of Candomble. These devotions and reverence from colonialism have continued through the ages to the present day in a unique form of cultural dualism and synthesis in Brazil.

Goncalves is best noted for his cycle of works, “Water Spirits” and “Orisha” that chronicle the celebrations and festivals of .., held annually in mid-August. He is also renowned for his depictions Yemanja. Bahia hosts an annual festival in her honor on February 2, where thousands of people go to the sea and bring gifts of flowers, perfume, food and other offerings favored by the orisa.

J. Goncalves was born and raised in Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil and has exhibited his paintings and sculptures in numerous museums and galleries in Brazil and at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum. Much of his work hangs permanently throughout the town of Cachoeira in the municipal buildings and museums. He began painting and sculpting the cultural practices of Brazilians at the age of seven. His art represents a great contribution to the preservation of Brazilian culture.

I met J on my first trip to Brazil in 2018 while I was attending the Decolonial Black Feminist Summer program and Boa Morte. We quickly became close friends and I am grateful to serve as a channel to sharing his work and reflecting the ties that bind us all. If you are interested in purchasing artwork or clothing from J. Goncalves please contact him here!