Africa-Press – Cape verde. Two brotherhoods of the Reinados (religious processions) begin their traditional walk through Fogo Island today, committed to keeping alive one of the island’s oldest cultural and religious expressions, institutionalized 173 years ago.
As in previous years, King José António Freire de Andrade, known as Alfredinho, will participate in this walk, accompanied by his son, as well as the duo Nené di Bebeto and Lourenço, departing from the church around 11 am.
Both groups will follow a traditional route with the image of Our Lady of Grace, respecting the rituals and essence of this centuries-old celebration.
The Reinados tradition was officially institutionalized in 1853 by Bishop Dom Frei Patrício Xavier de Moura, who set the departure and return dates for the brotherhoods.
The departure takes place on January 6th, a date that remains to this day, while the return now takes place on Ash Wednesday.
However, historical documents indicate that the practice predates the formal institutionalization.
One of the oldest records dates from December 23, 1842, when the then Bishop-elect of Cape Verde, Dom João Henrique Moniz, responded to a request from the administrator of the municipality of Fogo regarding the activities of a brotherhood that operated without defined statutes.
In this correspondence, the bishop mentions that, “from ancient times,” there was a devotion to the Reinados on the island, characterized by annual begging trips, sung masses, and the participation of chosen faithful.
According to the documents, the Reinados only visited the houses that traditionally received them, where they prayed and collected alms in money or goods, later delivered to the Church with full accountability.
This practice was consolidated throughout the 19th century, a period in which the confraternities followed strict rules and defined itineraries, generally beginning at the Mother Church of São Filipe.
At its peak, the island of Fogo had 24 Reinados confraternities. Each group was led by a “king,” assisted by an interim king, a treasurer, and other participants, all practicing Catholics.
The litanies, often recited in Latin, are accompanied by specific symbols, such as the drum, the bell, and the rosary, and the table is usually adorned with tablecloths or bedspreads, the ends of which are fastened to the wall (with steel nails) and to the table.
Today, despite the reduction in the number of confraternities, the walk that begins reaffirms the importance of the Kingdoms as a cultural and religious heritage of the island, preserving a legacy that spans generations.
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