Zé Pilintra
Encyclopedia
Zé Pilintra a.k.a. "Zé Pelintra", is a folkloric
and spiritual character from the Afro-Brazilian
and regional religions Umbanda
and Catimbó (or Catimba).
It is widely reputed, specially among umbandistas (Umbanda practicers), as the patron spirit of the barrooms, gambling dens and gutters (while not aligned with "evil" entities, however), a kind of archetypic transcription of the malandro (see malandragem
) character in the form of a white suit-clad negro or mulatto
(rarely a white person), sporting a Panama hat
and a bright red tie and chrome white shoes. The Zé Pilintra spirit is famed by its extreme bohemianism and wild partying persona, a kind of South American Loki
right from the very urban setting as of the one from Rio de Janeiro
or São Paulo
inner cities.
Despite parttaking importance among practicers of both Catimbó and Umbanda
, Zé Pilintra is a entity originally from the latter, being absorbed into Catimbó rituals after the cities became nearer to the older rural settings (from where the Catimbó was born) and the priests of Catimbó started accepting Zé Pilintra as a fully fledged entity of their own cult (see religious synchretism).
The entity is summoned when his followers need help on domestical, business or financial affairs and is generally regarded as enforcer of charity
or on the doing of good deeds.
is a Afro-Brazilian religion with its own rituals and structure, while Catimbó is a regional form of synchretism, mixing elements from both African, American-Indian and European (animist, naturalistic and Catholic) beliefs.
At Umbanda
Zé Pilintra is widely believed to be one Exu, a whole magical entity from divinal nature, while on Catimbó the entity is seem as a wandering human spirit leading a phalanx (line) of malandros (spirits of vagabond, freewheeling, nighttime bohemians). Also, inside Catimbó, Zé Pilintra is believed to be from the '"line" of souls, or long-dead humans turned into spiritual beings for the benefit of Mankind
.
and São Paulo
, but they are also encountered on the northwestern Brazil, among catimbozeiros, or "followers of Catimba", at rural areas.
Zé Pilintra, between the two instances, is regarded as a protector of the poor and a very important entity as well, gaining the nickname of "Lawyer from the Poor" from
his patronage of the materially deprived people.
based the main character of his Ópera do Malandro according to the visual style and manners of Zé Pilintra
Very closely, the world famed archetype
of the Rio de Janeiro
malandro (bohemian) was based on the physiognomy, clothes and lifestyle of the Zé Pilintra mythos
.
Famed Brazilian musician and composer, Itamar Assumpção
, wrote a song about Zé Pilintra back in 1988, with Wally Salomão as composing partner, called "Zé Pilintra".
Another famed Brazilian samba
composer and singer, Bezerra da Silva
, recorded a song about Zé Pilintra back in his 1976 album O Rei do Côco, the song was aptly named "Segura a Viola (Zé Pilintra)" (Hold the Guitar, Zé Pilintra).
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
and spiritual character from the Afro-Brazilian
Afro-Brazilian
In Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
and regional religions Umbanda
Umbanda
Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
and Catimbó (or Catimba).
It is widely reputed, specially among umbandistas (Umbanda practicers), as the patron spirit of the barrooms, gambling dens and gutters (while not aligned with "evil" entities, however), a kind of archetypic transcription of the malandro (see malandragem
Malandragem
Malandragem is a Brazilian Portuguese term for a lifestyle of idleness, fast living and petty crime - traditionally celebrated in samba lyrics, especially those of Noel Rosa. The exponent of this lifestyle, the malandro , or "bad boy" , has become significant to Brazilian national identity as a...
) character in the form of a white suit-clad negro or mulatto
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
(rarely a white person), sporting a Panama hat
Panama hat
A Panama hat is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant...
and a bright red tie and chrome white shoes. The Zé Pilintra spirit is famed by its extreme bohemianism and wild partying persona, a kind of South American Loki
Loki
In Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi...
right from the very urban setting as of the one from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
or São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
inner cities.
Despite parttaking importance among practicers of both Catimbó and Umbanda
Umbanda
Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
, Zé Pilintra is a entity originally from the latter, being absorbed into Catimbó rituals after the cities became nearer to the older rural settings (from where the Catimbó was born) and the priests of Catimbó started accepting Zé Pilintra as a fully fledged entity of their own cult (see religious synchretism).
The entity is summoned when his followers need help on domestical, business or financial affairs and is generally regarded as enforcer of charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
or on the doing of good deeds.
On Afro-Brazilian and regional mythology and origins
First of all, UmbandaUmbanda
Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
is a Afro-Brazilian religion with its own rituals and structure, while Catimbó is a regional form of synchretism, mixing elements from both African, American-Indian and European (animist, naturalistic and Catholic) beliefs.
At Umbanda
Umbanda
Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
Zé Pilintra is widely believed to be one Exu, a whole magical entity from divinal nature, while on Catimbó the entity is seem as a wandering human spirit leading a phalanx (line) of malandros (spirits of vagabond, freewheeling, nighttime bohemians). Also, inside Catimbó, Zé Pilintra is believed to be from the '"line" of souls, or long-dead humans turned into spiritual beings for the benefit of Mankind
Mankind
Mankind may refer to:* The human species* Mankind , a 15th century morality play* Mankind , a 1998 massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game* Mankind , an album by Factory 81...
.
Distribution of followers and fame
Mainly the followers of Zé Pilintra concentrates on the urban settings of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, but they are also encountered on the northwestern Brazil, among catimbozeiros, or "followers of Catimba", at rural areas.
Zé Pilintra, between the two instances, is regarded as a protector of the poor and a very important entity as well, gaining the nickname of "Lawyer from the Poor" from
his patronage of the materially deprived people.
On media and popular culture
Famed Brazilian composer and singer Chico BuarqueChico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda , popularly known as Chico Buarque , is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet...
based the main character of his Ópera do Malandro according to the visual style and manners of Zé Pilintra
Very closely, the world famed archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
of the Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
malandro (bohemian) was based on the physiognomy, clothes and lifestyle of the Zé Pilintra mythos
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
.
Famed Brazilian musician and composer, Itamar Assumpção
Itamar Assumpção
Itamar Assumpção , born in Tietê, SP, Brazil. Itamar was a Brazilian songwriter and composer, who stood out in the independent/alternative music scene in the 80s a 90s, especially in São Paulo...
, wrote a song about Zé Pilintra back in 1988, with Wally Salomão as composing partner, called "Zé Pilintra".
Another famed Brazilian samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
composer and singer, Bezerra da Silva
Bezerra da Silva
José Bezerra da Silva was a Brazilian samba musician of the partido alto style.-Biography:...
, recorded a song about Zé Pilintra back in his 1976 album O Rei do Côco, the song was aptly named "Segura a Viola (Zé Pilintra)" (Hold the Guitar, Zé Pilintra).