Published 2025-01-01 — Updated on 2025-01-01
Keywords
- brotherhood,
- Holy Spirit,
- Popular religiosity,
- Religious syncretism,
- Intangible cultural heritage
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Abstract
The Congos of the Holy Spirit of Villa Mella represent one of the most important cultural and religious expressions of the Dominican Republic. This tradition, which combines elements of African spirituality with popular Catholicism, was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. Throughout this article, the history, organizational structure, spiritual and social significance of the Congos are analyzed, as well as their importance for the cultural identity of Villa Mella. The article is based on an interdisciplinary analysis, using anthropological, historical and sociological sources, along with interviews with members of the brotherhood. In addition, contemporary challenges for the preservation of this tradition in the context of modernization and globalization are explored.