Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê

Name: Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê
Director: Carolina Moraes-Liu
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2010
Rating: 10

"The story of three young women searching for identity and self-esteem as they compete for the title of Ebony Goddess in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, the largest black city outside of Africa."

10/10

2010

0h 20m

Documentary

Overview

Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê follows three women competing to be the carnival queen of Ilê Aiyê, a prominent and controversial Afro-Brazilian group with an all-black membership. The selection is based on Afro-centric notions of beauty, in counterpoint to prevailing standards of beauty in Brazil, a country famous for slim supermodels and plastic surgery. Contestants for the title of Ebony Goddess dress in flowing African-style garments, gracefully performing traditional Afro-Brazilian dances to songs praising the beauty of black women.