Olga de Alaketu

Olga de Alaketu or Mother Olga- (c.1925—September 29, 2005) was a prominent Candomblé high priestess, who was influential in promoting Candomblé and distancing it from Catholicism.

Related Topics:
1925 - September 29 - 2005 - Candomblé - High priestess - Catholicism

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A fifth generation descendant of the royal house of Aro in modern Benin; Alaketu served as high priestess of the Ile Maroia Laji temple in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, one of the oldest Candomblé temples in Brazil. Her temple attracted many promininet people including the wrtiter Jorge Amado, and the French anthropolgist Pierre Verger. When the Ile Maroia Laji was declared a national heritage site, Cultural Minister Gilberto Gil said of Alaketu:

Related Topics:
Aro - Benin - Ile Maroia Laji - Salvador da Bahia - Brazil - Jorge Amado - French - Pierre Verger - Cultural Minister - Gilberto Gil

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"In the last forty years, we can consider Mother Olga as the greatest proponent of the religion of the Orishas in all Brazil."

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Alaketu died from complications from diabetes in 2005, and was buried in the Bosque da Paz Cemetary. She was succeeded by her eldest daughter.

Related Topics:
Diabetes - Bosque da Paz Cemetary

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