Babalorixás
Babalorixás are male priests in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, most notably Candomblé. The term blends the words baba, meaning father, and lorixá, meaning priest of an orixá, reflecting their role as leaders and custodians of a lineage of orixás, deities of Yoruba origin.
They oversee the ritual life of the terreiro, the religious house where worship takes place. This includes
The position typically requires long apprenticeship under an established priest and is conferred with the blessing
In many houses the female counterpart is the ialorixá or mãe-de-santo, and practices can vary among communities