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A short, respectful introduction. Practices vary between houses and lineages.
Candomblé formed in Brazil, mainly in Bahia, during the 19th century, from the religions brought by enslaved Africans. Casa Branca do Engenho Velho in Salvador is considered one of the oldest houses. Its main nations are Ketu (Yoruba), Jeje (Fon/Ewe) and Angola (Bantu).
Candomblé honors the orixás (Ketu), voduns (Jeje) or inquices (Angola), divine forces linked to nature and to ancestry. Each person is believed to have a guardian orixá. The force called axé flows between people, ancestors and the divine.
Commonly worshipped orixás include Exu, Ogum, Oxóssi, Omolu/Obaluaê, Ossain, Oxumarê, Xangô, Oxum, Iansã/Oyá, Iemanjá, Nanã and Oxalá.
Houses (terreiros) are led by a Babalorixá or Iyalorixá. Practice includes initiation, offerings, drumming and dances in which orixás manifest, and divination with cowrie shells (jogo de búzios / merindilogun).
Candomblé is not witchcraft or devil worship, and it is distinct from Umbanda. It has historically faced persecution and is today recognized as an important part of Brazilian culture and protected by law.