Èṣù Como Tecnologia Ancestral De Cuidado: Luta Anti-colonial E O Reconhecimento De Saberes No Sistema Único De Saúde
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: This paper analyzes Èṣù as an ancestral soft technology of communication and care, functioning as a device of anti-colonial resistance in public health. Èṣù is a central Orixá, worshiped in all Candomblé traditions, representing the “minor sphere” and universal fertility. Liturgically represented by the Yangí stone and phallic forms that symbolize procreation and movement, Èṣù is the first son of the universe and ruler of crossroads, where the meeting of paths is his throne. His nature is strategic and capable of impossible achievements, as evoked by the saying: “Èṣù killed a bird yesterday with a stone he only threw today”; therefore, this work proposes a theoretical-conceptual reflection on Èṣù, understood as an ancestral soft technology of communication and care, operating as a device of anti-colonial resistance in the field of public health. Objective: Investigate how this technological matrix promotes healthcare and prevents health issues by valuing knowledge that resists colonialism. Methodology: The discussion is grounded in the anti-colonial struggle, a historical movement for political and territorial liberation against imperialist domination, drawing on Frantz Fanon and Aimé Césaire to denounce dehumanization and epistemic racism. The theoretical framework links soft healthcare technologies to the guidelines of Resolution No. 715/2023 of the Brazilian National Health Council, which validates the traditional knowledge and medicines from Quilombola and Candomblé communities as essential to the Brazilian Unified Public Health System (SUS). This is a reflective essay that intersects public healthcare with Yorùbá cosmoperception, focusing on Èṣù Barà (the body) as a repository of memory and autonomy. Result: It is argued that Èṣù’s technology mediates the flow and production of meaning, fighting against the eugenics-based logic that has excluded Black bodies. By “opening paths,” this technology activates mechanisms of acceptance and comprehensive protection, guaranteeing the right to health through non-hegemonic approaches. Conclusion: It is concluded that the recognition of Èṣù as a technology of care allows for a healthcare practice committed to anti-colonialism, transforming ancestral knowledge into political actions that promote life and tackle systemic racism.
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215633643