In the First Republic (1889-1930) as well as in the Vargas Era (1930-1945) the traditional terreiro communities were criminalized, their religious leaders were persecuted and their sacred objects were seized. In Rio de Janeiro, more than 200 objects were seized by the police, and after the end of the official criminalization, they became part of the collection in the Museum of Civil Police. The documentary The Sacred within us deals... see more