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Macumba Quimbanda ritual_24rf00014.jpg
A Quimbanda (or macumba) ritual, called trabalho, usually done with the purpose of eliminating an enemy, or obtaining a woman, or seeking justice, or succeeding in something, in a crossroad at downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilians usually call these rituals as macumba, a generic term for various Afro-Brazilian rituals, generally regarded as having negative connotations, comparable to an English term like "black magic". Quimbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion practiced primarily in the urban city centers of Brazil. typically associated with magic, or black magic rituals with Exu - who is the messenger of the Orixas (divine spirits) in the Candomble Afro-Brazilian religion, and also Pomba Giras spirits. Depending on the purpose of the ritual, aspects of the trabalho will change. Certain colors denote different motives in a ritual: white symbolizing an honest and justice-bound motive and red and black representing an aggressive and illicit motive. Considering there are 7 cigarretes and also red roses on this trabalho, probably it is devoted to Pomba Gira. She is an Afro-Brazilian spirit, the consort of Exu and often associated with the number seven, crossroads, graveyards, spirit possession, and witchcraft. Although very little of the Brazilian population claims to follow Quimbanda, many people from all social ranks use these rituals occasionally. It is a common practice for businessmen to consult Exus before major business dealings.