Domingos Alvares’ Impact on Empires
Domingos Alvares played many influential roles in all of the communities he was a part of. His actions demonstrated both political and religious motives and he used both as forms to maintain and reconstruct communal ties. As a vodun priest, Domingos gave people hope and unity. He gained many followers through his healing work, which people took as a sign of proof in the power of vodun and they found comfort in his spiritual and physical healing. (Sweet, 26) Regardless of the fact that he was across the Atlantic Ocean, Domingos continued to spread his religion to those whom were willing to listen. While in Brazil, Domingos also used his healing powers to build a community of followers in Rio. His fame spread and many searched for him at his healing center. Wherever he went, Domingos always had the ability to …show more content…
In Africa, Domingos brought people of different kingdoms and languages together in his Mahi village, in the name of his religion, and offered them safety. (Sweet, 25) Unfortunately, the same religious leadership role that he used to unify people, also caused him to be sold into slavery due to King Agaja seeing him and other vodun priests as a threat to the legitimacy of his monarchy. (Sweet, 20) Although Domingos was now enslaved, he continued to practice and spread his religion to new followers. In Brazil, he opened healing centers that served a double purpose of spreading religion and healing. His healing abilities gave legitimacy to vodun and meant people looked for him other than to cure their illnesses. This threatened the Portuguese and their use of the Catholic religion to control the Africans in their region. (Sweet, 106) However, in spite of threating empires across the Atlantic Ocean, Domingos did not fail to unify people and create a sense of community everywhere he
Domingos Alvares played many influential roles in all of the communities he was a part of. His actions demonstrated both political and religious motives and he used both as forms to maintain and reconstruct communal ties. As a vodun priest, Domingos gave people hope and unity. He gained many followers through his healing work, which people took as a sign of proof in the power of vodun and they found comfort in his spiritual and physical healing. (Sweet, 26) Regardless of the fact that he was across the Atlantic Ocean, Domingos continued to spread his religion to those whom were willing to listen. While in Brazil, Domingos also used his healing powers to build a community of followers in Rio. His fame spread and many searched for him at his healing center. Wherever he went, Domingos always had the ability to …show more content…
In Africa, Domingos brought people of different kingdoms and languages together in his Mahi village, in the name of his religion, and offered them safety. (Sweet, 25) Unfortunately, the same religious leadership role that he used to unify people, also caused him to be sold into slavery due to King Agaja seeing him and other vodun priests as a threat to the legitimacy of his monarchy. (Sweet, 20) Although Domingos was now enslaved, he continued to practice and spread his religion to new followers. In Brazil, he opened healing centers that served a double purpose of spreading religion and healing. His healing abilities gave legitimacy to vodun and meant people looked for him other than to cure their illnesses. This threatened the Portuguese and their use of the Catholic religion to control the Africans in their region. (Sweet, 106) However, in spite of threating empires across the Atlantic Ocean, Domingos did not fail to unify people and create a sense of community everywhere he