Society

Midnight at the Crossroads

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Cristina de Middel Exu is many times understood as a devil or a joker with playful and annoying interventions. In Brazil, his characterization with a young bohemian man has become a symbol of the city of Rio de Janei (...)
Cristina de Middel A Vodun ceremony to summon the Egungun, spirits of the ancestors. Ouidah, Benin. 2016. From the series "Mindnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel A Legba (Eshu) totem in Dahomey. Dahomey, Benin. 2016. "Mindnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel The dynamic energy of Exu and his ambiguous character are described in various songs and legends. Exu uses many tricks to confuse the people around him in order to generate conflict and suspicion. (...)
Cristina de Middel The Egungun are the spirits of the ancestors. They come back to the living world after a night long ceremony and wonder the streets giving advice to those who dare getting close to them. Ouidah, Be (...)
Cristina de Middel Legba (Eshu) starting his journey to America from the beaches of Ouidah. Benin. 2016. "Mindnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel Exu takes many different shapes, both woman and men. Here a Pomba Gira, the feminine representation of Exu in the Umbanda temples. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2016. "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Colla (...)
Cristina de Middel Elegguà arrives at the macumbas of Rio de Janeiro as EXU, and takes the shape Seu Zé Pilintra one of the icons of the Carioca soul. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2016. "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Coll (...)
Cristina de Middel The representation of Exú Sete Porteiras brings traces of the Greek satyrs with both devilish and playful qualities. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collabora (...)
Cristina de Middel Legba (Eshu) arrives in the coast of Cuba as Elegguá. Bahía Cochinos, Cuba. 2015. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais.) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel One of the most famous legends of Esù explains why we all have lines in our hands. Matanzas, Cuba. 2015. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel Tying strands of palm oil on your toes and pulling your feet off the floor at 12am will keep the bad luck away. Havana, Cuba. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with (...)
Cristina de Middel A Santería ceremony in Matanzas, one of the most openly religious cities in Cuba. Matanzas, Cuba. 2015. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel Esù ceremony in the outskirts of Havana. Havana, Cuba. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel Gonaïves, Haiti. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel Twins in Haiti are called Marassa and are also considered as specially blessed and providers of good luck. Jacmel, Haiti. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bru (...)
Cristina de Middel Eshu takes the shape of an old and wise man in Haiti. His name is Papa Legba and he has a white beard and smoles a pipe. Port au Prince, Haiti. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". ( (...)
Cristina de Middel One of the most popular legends about Eshu confuses two friends around the color of the hat that eshu is wearing in a tricky way in front of them. Jacmel, Haiti. 2018. From the series "Midnight at (...)
Cristina de Middel A Voodoo ceremony in the temple of Sainte Anne in Goinaïves. Gonaïves, Haiti. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais) © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos
Cristina de Middel HAITI. Cap Haitien. 2018. From the series "Midnight at the Crossroads". (Collaboration with Bruno Morais.)

A Voodoo ceremony in a Petro Perystile in the North of Haiti. © Cristina de Middel | Magnum Photos