Kiumbanda - A Complete Grammar of the Art of Exu is the first cohesive discourse on the Brazilian cult of sorcery dedicated to the cultivation of Exus and Pomba Giras. The book discuss the nature of almost 100 different spirits from a both scholarly and practical approach. Frisvold has with this book opened up the fascinating and enchanting kingdom of Exu for the English reading audience in this tome, which is an unique grimoire concerning the Art of kimbanda.
I am really glad to find a book like this, for Kimbanda/Kiumbanda isn't a subject you can easily find available to readers even in my home country, Brazil. Thanks, Nicholaj, for your book on this fascinating spiritual path of my country!
This is an excellent work for anyone interested in the origins and working methods of modern Brazilian sorcery. Contrasts and comparisons to other schools, and the origins and structure of both the inner and outer working methods are clearly laid out. There are many things that can only be learned from initiation, experience and direct contact, but that is true of any magickal school. The inclusion of both the visual and spoken Pontos is done in a very well-organized manner, making this an excellent work for those whose interest is academic, or for those who follow this path already and need reference material for their work. I only have two complaints: the first is that the book lacks a glossary, and the second is that I wish this book had been written 30 years ago. To answer the first complaint, I have found the author to be quick to answer questions (try doing that with most authors working with the commercial houses) which somewhat eliminates the need for a formal glossary. To... More > answer the second, I am not my replays of the past, it is what it is, and we have this wonderful resource now.< Less
"Re: this is not Quimbanda!" Hello there, I don't understand the reasons for your critique of this work. Apparently you read the book with some hostility already planted, which is not surprising, as I am equally distressed with the current state of affairs. But you are apparently forgetting the rich reality within kimbanda and your review truly makes me question to what extent you are familiar with kimbanda. I have diligently avoided to relating kimbanda to Candomble in any way, is it maybe this that provokes you with the work? Also, you are getting your sources wrong, if you read the dedication the main part of the book is an honour to Fontenelle and rightly enough both Molina and Alves. This means, if you say my book is not presenting kimbanda, you are saying that Fontenelle, Molina and Alves were not presenting kimbanda either. I explained in the first chapter of my book why I chose to use the word kiumbanda instead of kimbanda and also why I chose to approach I did. I... More > would really like you to rethink your review and preferably remove it, if not at least make it more objective and less hateful. Honestly I feel there should be more focus on dialogue and not this eternal quarrelling and ridiculous bickering of who is right and who is wrong. This is all very useless and tiresome. Nicholaj< Less
"Amazing Good Work!" Great work! I should congratulate the author for bringing back the wonderful perspective (as well accurate) of Master Teixeira. Many are the views upon Quimbanda, and without any doubt, this is a lot focused in one of the roots people of Candomblé tends to forget: the European one! As Brazilian and researcher of the Brazilian spirituality, I feel proud of the mixed root that shapes not only the Brazilian identity, but the spiritual paths. Unfortunatelly there has been much disagreement around Quimbanda and its roots, created by radicals of one or other stream of knowledge. Instead of creating huge wars, people should be more concerned in accept that as Brazil is a amazingly big Country, the practices varies depending of type and quantity of foreigners (Africans, Europeans) and Indigenous people living in a giving area. The author, as far as I could research about, is a Babalawo himself, very occupied with the African Roots (the real ones, and... More > not those already mixed ones of Candomblé), as well as he is European himself, wich allows him to have a perspective upon Quimbanda as few people have. I would like to know, for instance, if the author gives consults and/or guidance here in Brazil. No doubt, this is a person wich I am very interested to know.< Less
"this is not Quimbanda!" I am not sure what book the other users have read, but I doubt it was this one! I have been initiated in Candomble and Quimbanda for many years, but have never come across a book like this! The introduction is a confused mish-mash of the authors very strange ideas (which are definitelly NOT rooted in Quimbanda) and the last part of the book is made up of translations and reprints from older Brazilian sources such as Teixeira and Bittencourt! This is not a 'research work' but one man's interpretation of what he believes Quimbanda to be! Brazil is already flooded with many who claim to practice Quimbanda to cover their own strange and obscure practices and now this strange stuff has finally made its way into the English book market! Just the title of this books makes you wonder if this author have even ever met with a Quimbandeiro! Kiumba is not an alternative spelling for Quimbanda but spirits of darkness and the job of the Quimbandeiro is to... More > counteract the work of these spirits....all in all: THIS IS NOT A BOOK ON QUIMBANDA!< Less
