The conflictive creation of a transnational community of Orisha devotees : internet, nations and nationalities.

ALEJANDRO FRIGERIO

Paris

Simposio; Colloque international Les nouveaux essentialismes.; 2007

URCIM- IRD (Institute de Recherche pour le développement).

The dynamic expansion of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban religions over the Americas (and recently, into Europe) has led to the development of a transnational community of orixa/oricha/orisha devotees. Due to the growing popularity of internet in many of the continent?s countries, this awareness of belonging to a transnational community has expanded way beyond the original pioneering group composed mostly by the religious elite of the different countries. The many discussion forums on Afro-American religions that have developed on the past five years (or less) allow even participants from previously unimportant cities or regions of each country to interact with, and have access to, religious practitioners of different varieties and nationalities, lessening their sole dependence on a specific , nationally localized, religious lineage. Thus religious knowledge is greatly democratized, as Argentine practitioner from a small town in the interior may learn from a Mexican babalawo practicing and actively defending Afro-Cuban religions. An analysis of the relations established through these discussion forums, however, show them to be quite conflictive and illustrates the continuing relevance of national features even in de-territorialized transnational communities.