Captured in Angola and brought to Brazil as slaves, healer Natula and her daughter Kalinda lead a journey of resistance and reconnection with their roots through traditional medicine in the work “A Curandeira Bantu” , by writer and biochemist Renato Moreira . The book, which intertwines scientific knowledge and historical research, highlights the importance of African healing knowledge in the social construction of Brazil, at the same time that it narrates the fight for freedom and the preservation of African culture in the midst of slavery.
“The Bantu Healer” presents a story of resistance and connection with African roots. How did African ancestry and culture influence the book’s narrative?
To write the plot of the book Curandeira Bantu , I had to delve into books and internet texts that described African culture and history, mainly Angola and the Bantu ethnic group. Texts dealing with the ancestry of the ethnic group were researched in dozens of works consulted, mainly addressing traditions related to traditional medicine and the use of plants in healing processes.
The book begins with the protagonists being captured in Angola and brought to Brazil as slaves. How do they find the strength to resist and overcome the difficulties of slavery?
The Bantu people are resilient and strong-willed people. The fact that they were healers and saved lives and healed warriors injured in combat, instilled in them the pleasure of doing good and helping their fellow men in captivity, despite the attacks as slaves. The healers responded to the attacks by doing good to their fellow men, whether black or white, without distinction.
Natula and Kalinda reconnect with their roots through healing and midwifery. How is traditional African medicine portrayed in the book and what is its importance to the plot?
Kalinda and Natula , as they are heirs to healer mothers, learned from their mothers and grandmothers the healing power of medicinal plants and how to use them to treat infectious diseases and wounds, whether resulting from accidents or attacks. The medicine practiced by healers came from the use of plants in the form of teas or in the form of poultices for topical use. We can say that traditional African medicine was based on traditional medicine passed down from generation to generation.
You mention extensive research that underpinned the writing of the book. What was the research process like to accurately recreate the historical context of slaveholding Brazil and African contributions to society?
To construct the book’s plot, I based myself on extensive bibliographical research, in countless books and websites, covering the life and culture of African peoples, as well as life in colonial Brazil, with contact with local native peoples. The daily lives of enslaved Africans on large sugar cane and coffee plantations, in gold and precious stone mines and in cities, as domestic slaves and command slaves, were also the subject of extensive research.
Casa da Mãe Neusa, created by the protagonists, becomes a place of healing and hope. What is the meaning of this space in the narrative and how does it represent the resistance of the enslaved?
Casa da Mãe Neusa was born almost by chance. It was not planned and, yes, it was a consequence of the healings of the two healers. Natula ( Luena ) and Kalinda (Neusa) developed healing activities, initially with the slaves on the farm where they were slaves. But this expanded to blacks and whites, slaves and masters in the surrounding area. With the growth of the “clientele”, it was necessary to set up a structure, first in the house where they lived, with the permission of their master, who freed them, and, later, in a more appropriate house with a garden of medicinal plants, for their own use. and from anyone who looked for it, as well as from other healers taught by them.
Annexes at the end of the book include a glossary, timelines, actual locations, and information about diseases and medicinal plants. How do these elements complement the main narrative and enrich the reader’s experience?
The annexes included in the book Curandeiras Bantu were created in order to avoid numerous footnotes that were necessary and that could interrupt the flow of reading the book, placing information that the author considered important, in an easy-to-find place.
The work addresses Bantu culture and its presence in Brazil. How does the connection with Bantu culture shape the lives of the protagonists and how did you bring this culture into the narrative?
Bantu culture was the subject of bibliographical research aimed mainly at the lives of healers and their healing methods. The result of such bibliographical research was directed towards the creation of the book’s plot in order to bring to the reading public a vision of the lives of the healers, both in their native environment (Angola) and in the environment of the farm where they were slaves and where they developed their healing activities.
Healing through teas and ointments is a fundamental part of the story. How do you balance science and spirituality in the book, especially considering your background as a scientist and academic?
My scientific background, as a researcher in the field of Biochemistry and Immunology, undoubtedly leaves me comfortable dealing with aspects of diseases and cures, giving the novel a believable aspect of the subjects covered.
Writing about slavery and its impacts can be challenging. What were some of the challenges you faced in creating this narrative and how did you overcome them?
The challenge of writing about slavery in Brazil, from the kidnapping of the healers to day-to-day life in captivity was, without a doubt, the biggest problem I encountered when writing this book. Penetrating the core of an enslaved human being was difficult. Even more difficult was describing the kindness of a human being who, despite being a slave, dedicated himself to healing others, including his tormentors.
This is his second literary work, after “João Caetano, Memoirs of an Abolitionist”. How did your academic background and experience influence your transition into writing historical novels, and what inspires you to tell these stories?
I’ve always really enjoyed reading, especially history books, in general and particularly about Brazil. I always thought about getting involved with literature, on historical themes, but at the same time social ones. The theme of slavery and its influence on the formation of Brazilian society, whether participating in its culture or in society, has always been an attraction in my life as a writer. Finally, with retirement, I had time to fulfill my aspiration of being a writer.
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