Yemanjá
Wisdom from the African Heart of Brazil
narrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker
A film by Donna C. Roberts and Donna Read
Ancient knowledge. Timeless values. A universal story for humanity today.
A documentary film about the Afro-indigenous Candomblé spiritual culture in Bahia, Brazil.
(photo of Mãe Filhinha of Yemanjá-Ogunté, 109-years great! by Gerald Lee Hoffman, copyright 2013)
viGrounded in strong community and Earth-based wisdom,
Candomblé is a potent legacy of enslaved Africans in the Americas.
Our film explores contemporary and historical social challenges, resiliency and triumphs of
Candomblé and its devotees through the voices of extraordinary women leaders.
BE WELL everyone.
We have temporarily ceased in-person screenings due to concerns with COVID-19.
Our film is available On Demand to buy or rent for private home use via Vimeo:
vimeo.com/yemanja
Please contact us for educational & institutional license acquisition and DVDs for private home-use.
Next screening: November 2020 inaugural Sabira Cole Film Festival
We are honored that our film is being recognized with the Sabira Cole Award for Feature Length Documentary, the legacy of our dear friend the late Sabira (Bushra) Cole who joined the ancestors in February.
We are saddened by the passing of two great Candomblé leaders featured in our film, Makota Valdina Pinto & Mãe Stella de Oxóssi. May their eternal wisdom and love continue to inspire humanity worldwide.
Our film aims to divulge Makota Valdina and Mãe Stella's fierce dedication to the rights of humanity and nature.
Our film aims to divulge Makota Valdina and Mãe Stella's fierce dedication to the rights of humanity and nature.
Select 2020 screenings:
- African Diaspora Religious Studies Association
- Philadelphia Latino Film Festival virtual edition
- Champlain College Black History Month event featuring Yemanja & photography exhibit, Goddesses of Nature. Burlington, VT
- University of Florida Graduate Student Conference, Protest, Power and Prayer. Gainesville, FL
- Starr King School for the Ministry Symposium, Another Meaning of the World: Lessons from Afro-Atlantic Religions for Traumatic Times, with keynote by Dr. Rachel Elizabeth Harding. Oakland, CA
We are forever grateful to great writer and activist Alice Walker for narrating our film's story.
Alice Walker says of the film:
What a miracle is presented here. When I look into the faces of these great teachers, who have kept the faith the world,
now in its direst hour, most needs, I am humbled and, yes, amazed. For this is what Truth means.
No matter how hidden or abused, how enslaved and denied, it survives.
Axé! Ashé! Ase!
Alice Walker says of the film:
What a miracle is presented here. When I look into the faces of these great teachers, who have kept the faith the world,
now in its direst hour, most needs, I am humbled and, yes, amazed. For this is what Truth means.
No matter how hidden or abused, how enslaved and denied, it survives.
Axé! Ashé! Ase!
For a full list of screenings, please see our Screenings / Eventos page.
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We are happy to consider future screening engagements with the film
and companion photography exhibit, Goddesses of Nature.
View our 3-minute video below:
and companion photography exhibit, Goddesses of Nature.
View our 3-minute video below:
English Promo from Donna Carole Roberts on Vimeo.
"It is so overwhelmingly powerful!....Not since watching the film Daughters of the Dust have I seen such compelling visual images of Black women as institution builders, knowledge experts, and authoritative leaders (meaning not solely figureheads) in an African or African diasporic context."
-Dr. Dianne M. Stewart, Associate Professor of Religion and African American Studies, Emory University
To order institutional/educational film licenses in DVD or digital format, including the Portuguese version
(see web page: Casa de Iemanja), and for private home use, please contact D. Roberts, as below. There is a $25 fee for DVDs for private home use including U.S. shipping.
Contact us for fees for shipping to Canada & other destination. Digital version also available.
Payment via Donate link below.
Thank you! Obrigada! Gracias! Merci!
-Dr. Dianne M. Stewart, Associate Professor of Religion and African American Studies, Emory University
To order institutional/educational film licenses in DVD or digital format, including the Portuguese version
(see web page: Casa de Iemanja), and for private home use, please contact D. Roberts, as below. There is a $25 fee for DVDs for private home use including U.S. shipping.
Contact us for fees for shipping to Canada & other destination. Digital version also available.
Payment via Donate link below.
Thank you! Obrigada! Gracias! Merci!
Support our continued work promoting both original versions of the film with a gift from our project.
(A Spanish language version is currently in production. )
- $225 Aluminum mounted 11 x 17 signed photograph of Mãe Filhinha (film's "key art") and perpetual calendar
(perpetual calendar including traditional Brazilian recipes can be used year after year!)
- $125 11 x 17 signed photograph of Mãe Filhinha and perpetual calendar
- $100 Signed 11 x 17 limited edition "new" signed photos of Mãe Filhinha or image from our exhibit, Goddesses of Nature
( see images here: "Mãe Filhinha" gallery or "Goddesses of Nature Exhibit" https://morningskystudio.photoshelter.com/portfolio/G0000IL64pNeFBYo )
- $70 Signed 10 x 13 photo (as above)
- $50 Signed 6 x 9 photo (as above)
- $30 Perpetual calendar
Please donate using PayPal via the "Donate" tab above, or call/email us to use a credit card without using PayPal.
(*additional $5 -$10 for shipping in U.S depending on item)
(A Spanish language version is currently in production. )
- $225 Aluminum mounted 11 x 17 signed photograph of Mãe Filhinha (film's "key art") and perpetual calendar
(perpetual calendar including traditional Brazilian recipes can be used year after year!)
- $125 11 x 17 signed photograph of Mãe Filhinha and perpetual calendar
- $100 Signed 11 x 17 limited edition "new" signed photos of Mãe Filhinha or image from our exhibit, Goddesses of Nature
( see images here: "Mãe Filhinha" gallery or "Goddesses of Nature Exhibit" https://morningskystudio.photoshelter.com/portfolio/G0000IL64pNeFBYo )
- $70 Signed 10 x 13 photo (as above)
- $50 Signed 6 x 9 photo (as above)
- $30 Perpetual calendar
Please donate using PayPal via the "Donate" tab above, or call/email us to use a credit card without using PayPal.
(*additional $5 -$10 for shipping in U.S depending on item)
Yemanjá: Wisdom from the African Heart of Brazil is a production of Project Zula /Projeto Zula
Donna Carole Roberts, Producer/Director
Copyright 2015
Email: roberts.donna@mac.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yemanjathefilm.com
Tel. U.S. 239/771-9759
Skype: donnacroberts1
All photos on this site are copyrighted and cannot be used without permission.
If you would like to use any content of this site, please contact Ms. Roberts.
We are very happy you are interested in our work and will respond in a timely manner.
Thank you! Obrigada!
If you would like to use any content of this site, please contact Ms. Roberts.
We are very happy you are interested in our work and will respond in a timely manner.
Thank you! Obrigada!