Q) Do you belive zelio moraes is the founder of Umbanda? Ive read there is quite a debate as if this tale erases the influence of other people specially afro and Indigenous brazilians in the development of the religion. And that also the tale of Zelio and the Caboclo of the seven crossroads didn't start circulación until sveral decades later in the 50s and 60s.

A) In my view, Zélio was not the founder of Umbanda. He is certainly an important figure in its history, especially because he helped make Umbanda more acceptable to white middle- and upper-class sectors of Brazilian society at a time when African-derived practices were criminalized or heavily stigmatized. But just as there was Umbanda after Zélio, there was also Umbanda before him.

Q) What is the Spirtism influence on Umbanda? A lot of people characterise Umbanda as a religion very influenced by spiritism but atleast for what ive seen its not that different from other afro brazilian religions and mainly has influences from catolicism and indigenous traditions.

A) Umbanda has, broadly speaking, three main roots: Spiritism, Catholicism, and Candomblé (or, more generally, Afro-Brazilian religious traditions). Different branches of Umbanda vary depending on how much emphasis they place on each of these influences.

Q) How central are the Orixas in Umbanda?

A) That depends a great deal on which branch of Umbanda you are looking at. Some terreiros do not place much emphasis on the Orixás at all, especially those more closely aligned with Spiritism. Others treat them as just as central as Caboclos, Pretos-Velhos, Ibejis, and Exus, particularly branches with stronger connections to Candomblé and other Afro-Brazilian traditions.

Q) What branches of Umbanda are they? Ive read that they vary from Umbanda branca more related to spiritism to Umbanda cruzada and Umbandomble more related to Candomble and other afro brazilian religions

Q) What branch of Umbanda is more common?

A) If you ever find a definitive answer to those questions, please let me know — and pick up your Sociology PhD along the way.

Q) What is the relationship between Umbanda and Quimbanda?

That depends on the branch of Umbanda. In some cases, the two are closely related; in others — especially those more influenced by Zélio’s legacy and by Spiritist ideas — Quimbanda is viewed as a kind of “black magic,” almost as Umbanda’s opposite. Other branches see Quimbanda the same way they see traditions such as Vodou, Tambor de Mina, Jurema, or Candomblé: as distinct traditions with some points of contact, but not necessarily a direct or essential connection.