Mãe Menininha do Gantois

**Mãe Menininha do Gantois** (wey dem bon for 10 February 1894 and kpai for 13 August 1986) na one big spiritual leader for Brazil. Shi bi iyalorixá wey stan for pesin wey dey lead for Candomblé, wey bi Afrika-Brazilian religion an shi bi spiritual pikin of one Orixá wey dem dey kol Oxum. Shi lead one popula temple wey dem kol Ilê Axé Iyá Omin Iyamas or Terreiro do Gantois for 64 years. Dis temple dey for one plez wey dem kol Alto do Gantois for Salvador, Bahia.

Shi hep govment sabi Candomblé religion, so dat pipu no go dey sofa fom pipu wey no lik dem again bikos dem dey worship lik African pipu. Wen shi kpai for 13 August 1986, Stet of Bahia du three days mourning to tek honor ha, an City Council of Salvador du spshial session to giv ha respet. Dem don declare Terreiro do Gantois as nashonal monument wey dem go protet.

## How shi tek stat
Ha real nem na Maria Escolástica da Conceição Nazaré Assunção, an dem bon ha for Salvador, Bahia, for 10 February 1894. Ha granmama wey baptize ha giv ha nickname "Menininha," wey mean "smol girl." 

Shi kom fom famili wey get strong wuman leadership or matriarchal society. Ha papa an mama bi Afro-Brazilian pipu wey dia ancestors kom fom Yoruba royal famili for Egba-Alakê for Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Ha great-granpapa an great-granmama – Maria Júlia da Conceição do Nazaré an Francisco Nazaré Eta – bi first black pipu wey dem free fom slavery. Ha grandmama Maria Júlia na di pesin wey tich ha Candomblé an na shi build di temple wey dem kol Ilê Iyá Omi Axé Iyamassê. Wen shi dey 8 years old, dem initiate Menininha insaide di Candomblé tradishon. Leta, shi mari one man wey dem kol Álvaro MacDowell de Oliveira, an dem bon two daughters. One of ha daughters, Mãe Cleusa da Conceição Nazaré de Oliveira, bi di next leader of the temple after Menininha kpai.

## How shi tek lead
Menininha stat to lead Terreiro do Gantois afta ha granmama Mãe Pulquéria kpai for 1918. At fest, dem sey ha aunty Maria da Glória Nazaré go tek ova, but shi kpai bifor shi start. So, dem kom chuz Menininha as leader for 1922. 

Shi fez plenti wahala bikos Brazilian govment no wan mek Afrika religion dey strong. Shi even go prison, but shi no giv up. Shi fiaght mek govment savi Candomblé, an shi hep remuv bad belle wey pipu get for di religion. 

Shi chenj hundreds of pipu enta Candomblé, lik musicians an profesors wey leta stodi African-Brazilian kolsho. Shi wor wit big pipu lik:

.Antônio Carlos Magalhães – one strong senator

.Carybé – one artist

.Edson Carneiro & Pierre Verger – anthropologists wey stodi Afro-Brazilian pipu

Som pipu vex sry shi dey opun Candomblé to outsaiders, but shi no send dem. Shi fight rish govment levu, an for 1970s, dem finally legalize Candomblé religion.

## Ha Legacy
Menininha kpai in 13 August 1986 at age 92. Govement of Salvador du big ceremoni to honor ha, an dem sey shi bi strong leader wey faight for respet an freedom for African-Brazilian religion. Afta shi kpai, ha pikin wey bi girl, Cleusa, tek ova, an letq, ha smol daughter Mãe Carmem de Òsàlá kontinue di wok.

Menininha don turn symbol of motherhood an African spirituality. Ha special chair, wey be lik throne, dey City Museum for Salvador.

## Songs wey dem sing for ha

Meni musicians don rait song to honor Menininha. One of dem, Beth Carvalho, compose one song wey dem kol "O Encanto do Gantois" for 1985.

One praya wey dem sing for ha go lik dis:
Prayar to Mother Menininha
Oh my mama
My mama Menininha
Oh my mama
Di small girl for Gantois
Di most fine star,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di brightest sun,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di beauty of di wod,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di hand wey swit,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di one wey dey comfort us,
huh? E dey for Gantois
And Oshun wey fain pas,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Olorun send dis pikin of Oshun
Mek shi tek care of us
An hol di pipu.

One praya wey dem sing for ha go lik dis:

Prayar to Mother Menininha
Oh my mama
My mama Menininha
Oh my mama
Di small girl for Gantois

Di most fine star,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di brightest sun,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di beauty of di wod,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di hand wey swit,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Di one wey dey comfort us,
huh? E dey for Gantois
And Oshun wey fain pas,
huh? E dey for Gantois
Olorun send dis pikin of Oshun
Mek shi tek care of us
An hol di pipu.

## Wia dem gada tori