Terreiro do Gantois Confirms Death of Mãe Carmen de Oxaguian in Salvador

Overview

• Her death was announced early Friday by the Ilé Ìyá Omi Àṣẹ Ìyámase on its official social media, with funeral details not yet released.
• She had been hospitalized for about two weeks at Hospital Português in Salvador due to complications from a strong flu.
• Mãe Carmen was the fifth ialorixá of the Gantois, initiated into candomblé at age 7, and led the house since 2002 in the lineage of her mother, Mãe Menininha.
• Political leaders and artists paid tribute, including Salvador mayor Bruno Reis, Bahia governor Jerônimo Rodrigues, singer Maria Bethânia, actress Regina Casé, and journalist Tia Má.
• Her work drew institutional and artistic recognition, including UNESCO’s Medal of the Five Continents in 2010, the Comenda Maria Quitéria in 2023, Nelson Rufino’s song A Força do Gantois, and the 2019 tribute album Obatalá.