Afro-Brazilian religion has its roots in Africa. During the Atlantic Slave Trade (16th-19th centuries), enslaved Africans carried their traditions to Brazil, where they created new African-based religions-including Candomblé. This dynamic religion, represented in the 16 photographs here, worships the spirits of nature, called orixás. In rituals, people dress as spirits and invite them to inhabit their bodies so others can experience the deep forces of nature.

In these photographs, you will meet nine spirits. The photographer, Phyllis Galembo, and a leading priestess of Candomblé, Mãe Stella de Oxóssi, share their perspectives on the photographs.