Ancestral African-rooted Solidarity Kitchens: religious and dietary practices in the decolonization of public health
1
Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
2
Department of Public Policy and Collective Health, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In afro-brazilian religions, sacred kitchens are central to the care of the Orixás, as well as the community1,2. Therefore, these places are essentially Solidarity Kitchens (S.K.), where meals are distributed to people in social vulnerability3,4. The objective of this study was to understand how religious practices are integrated into meal preparation.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive, qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study, conducted with a convenience sample of S.K. located in five Brazilian states (S.P., M.A. M.G., P.E. and P.R.) and one in the Federal District. To be included in the sample, the S.K. had to be related to afro-brazilian religions, be operational, and linked to both national public policies: Solidarity Kitchen Program4 and Feeding Cities Strategy5. The visits were conducted between May and November 2025.
RESULTS:
Based on the interviews, three S.K. reported preparing meals based on the fundamentals of the afro-brazilian religions to which they belong. One of them prepares the meals according to the toque of the day, based on the Orixás and guides that will be present; another one only makes preparations that refer to the Orixás on feast days; and the last one makes preparations according to the rites and teachings of the ancestors, in addition to using a "secret" to season the meals. All three S.K. reported that they prioritize ingredients according to ancestral teachings, but they usually have to use what is available. Furthermore, all S.K. reported that distributing meals helped change people's perception of the religious space and, in five S.K., that was important for some people to approach the house.
CONCLUSIONS:
These S.K. are important because they constitute a space of resistance and preservation of African ancestry in Brazil. Recognizing and integrating these practices into public food policies is essential for decoloniality these policies, contributing to the development of culturally inclusive health systems.
In afro-brazilian religions, sacred kitchens are central to the care of the Orixás, as well as the community1,2. Therefore, these places are essentially Solidarity Kitchens (S.K.), where meals are distributed to people in social vulnerability3,4. The objective of this study was to understand how religious practices are integrated into meal preparation.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive, qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study, conducted with a convenience sample of S.K. located in five Brazilian states (S.P., M.A. M.G., P.E. and P.R.) and one in the Federal District. To be included in the sample, the S.K. had to be related to afro-brazilian religions, be operational, and linked to both national public policies: Solidarity Kitchen Program4 and Feeding Cities Strategy5. The visits were conducted between May and November 2025.
RESULTS:
Based on the interviews, three S.K. reported preparing meals based on the fundamentals of the afro-brazilian religions to which they belong. One of them prepares the meals according to the toque of the day, based on the Orixás and guides that will be present; another one only makes preparations that refer to the Orixás on feast days; and the last one makes preparations according to the rites and teachings of the ancestors, in addition to using a "secret" to season the meals. All three S.K. reported that they prioritize ingredients according to ancestral teachings, but they usually have to use what is available. Furthermore, all S.K. reported that distributing meals helped change people's perception of the religious space and, in five S.K., that was important for some people to approach the house.
CONCLUSIONS:
These S.K. are important because they constitute a space of resistance and preservation of African ancestry in Brazil. Recognizing and integrating these practices into public food policies is essential for decoloniality these policies, contributing to the development of culturally inclusive health systems.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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