This is a post that i wrote in response to the discussion of the candomble coming to the US on an another list.

======All of your comments make so much sense... and yet you see more and
more people going doen up without much thinking..
Another thing, yearS ago, if a non brazilian had ever heard of
candomble it was b/c he had been in Brazil and heard or saw or met
somebody already iniated or at least familiar with the iles, nations
etc.. So there was a first hand experience, that could avoid a lot of
booby traps. Another factor was that , one was going directly to a
reading and most of the time it was not for getting iniated but for
advice etc.. If initiation was an issue it was rare to see a
foreigner being thrown into initiation right away.. One would stay an
devotee or no more than an Abian for many months or years before he
was admitted to be initiated, That would give the person the time to
know different iles, babas, to feel the inner structure and the non
verbal behaviors ans well as the etiquette of each candomble.

ALthough this is changing too in Brasil i think..

What we see now is so different... hear say by Tv books net etc...
this does not give the same optic and it lacks of direct observation
and participation of what is candomble.
People want to be part of, by means of initiation, which is also a
new phenomenon. Initiation is seen as a bilateral relationship with
the baba or Iya and obliterates the community, the life with the
other members.

In Brasil, a new initiate is not really paid attention to, by the Iya
or BAbas other than when hehas an obligation to do. the learning is
done by observing doing and living together, not by sitting to a Guru
feet.
I think this is a geat misperception widespread in the outside world
of candomble wanna bes in the US.
Usually in Brasil,one does not choose to be initiated, and would
rather stay a devottee or a familiar of the ile, because one knows
the obligations, the costs, the sacrifice and moreover the commitment
to orixa and the ile. One also does not have the constant relation
with he Baba or Iya, this is rare and can give the oportunity of many
gossisp and revalry if this happens.

So I think that what candomble is becoming in the US is a kind of A
NEW guru candomble religion and very different from what we have in
Brazil.
Axe love to all
GAMO