The singer was reported to the Public Prosecutor after changing the lyrics of a song that mentions Iemanjá
Claudia Leitte’s statements
Claudia Leitte publicly faced accusations of religious racism for the first time this Monday 30. The artist was reported to the Public Prosecutor of Bahia (MP-BA) after having replaced the name of Iemanjá, one of the main Orishas of the religions of origin African. , with the term “King Yeshua” in an excerpt of the song “Caranguejo”.
During a press conference held before her performance at the Virada Salvador Festival, Claudia stated that “this question [racismo] It’s a very serious issue.” In response to the allegations, the singer stressed the importance of addressing the topic in depth. “From my position of privilege, racism is an issue to be discussed very seriously, not so superficially ” he said.
He also emphasized values such as respect and integrity. “I really value respect, solidarity, integrity. We cannot negotiate these values in any way, nor put them like this, thrown to the Internet court. That’s all,” he concluded.
Report to the Public Prosecutor
The complaint was filed by yalorixá Jaciara Ribeiro and the Institute for the Defense of the Rights of Afro-Brazilian Religions (Idafro). The Public Prosecutor informs, in a statement, that it has opened an investigation to ascertain whether there is religious racism “consisting in the violation of cultural heritage and the rights of religious communities of African origin, without prejudice to any criminal liability”.
According to the complaint, the replacement of Iemanjá’s name in the song “Caranguejo” decontextualizes the work and reflects contempt and hostility towards Afro-Brazilian religions. The text claims that the Festa de Iemanjá, depicted in the original text, and Orixá itself are cultural assets protected by law, and the alteration of the music can be interpreted as an attack.
Context of changes in music
Videos posted on the Internet show Claudia Leitte singing the edited version of the song “Caranguejo”, where the mention of Iemanjá was replaced by “King Yeshua”, which means Jesus in Hebrew. The complaint highlights that the change not only distorts the original context of the work, but also offends religious communities by ignoring the cultural and spiritual importance of Iemanjá.
After the original complaint, Claudia Leitte sang the song again with the verse change a second time on Sunday (29/12), during the pre-New Year in Recife. The case remains under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the investigation will evaluate the possible legal implications arising from the change in music.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
