Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais (1959- )

The Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais (CEAO) of the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil) was created in 1959 on the initiative of the Portuguese thinker and philosopher Agostinho da Silva (1906-1994). The proposition adopted resulted both in an institutional space of fruitful experiences in the history of Afro-Brazilian studies, traditionally linked to anthropology, and in the fostering of research in Africa and exchanges with African and Asian countries, as well as in the relationship with civil society, notably the terreiros de candomblé (Afro-Brazilian religious centers) and entities of the black movement in the Bahian capital. Thus, the history of the CEAO is related to an unprecedented institutional South-South dialogue, both within macro-politics and micro-politics.

Keywords: Negritude | Second half of the 20^th century | Africa | Brazil | Bahia | Asie | African-American studies | Afro-brazilian Religions | Asian studies | Candomblé | Lusophony | Agostinho da Silva