Oxum and Xangô: water justice from the Saracura river in São Paulo

"One of the legacies of the global north's epistemology in São Paulo is the canalization and concealment of its rivers within the city's landscape. In contemporary times, restorative pathways for São Paulo's rivers are emerging, giving rise to alternative narratives rooted in the remaining counter-hegemonic cultures within these territories. Despite its canalized state, the Saracura River in Bixiga, one of the city's current black neighbourhoods, still reverberates with its Afro-Brazilian heritage. The effort to restore the Saracura River sparks discussions about recognizing the river as a subject of rights, aligning with the South American agenda that acknowledges the mutual relationship between nature and the community, deserving preservation. Within Afro-Brazilian epistemology and the Yoruba tradition, nature and humanity seamlessly merge: the river's waters embody Oxum, the orisha known as the great mother of prosperity, while Xangô represents fire and serves as the warrior king delivering justice. The intention is to reflect on the Saracura River, revisiting epistemologies from the global south and relating them to urban planning in São Paulo."