How Are The Temples And The Priesthood Of The Candomble Religion Organized?

The Candomblé temples are called the houses (or the casas), the  plantations (or the roças), or the yards (or the terreiros). Most Candomblé houses are quiet small, independently owned and are usually managed by the respective higher priests (or the father- or the mother-of- the saint). A few of the older and larger houses also have a more institutional and hierarchial character and with a more formal hierarchy. There really is no central administration for these temples.

The Candomblé priesthood is also organized into symbolic families,the members of which are not necessarily relatives as in the common sense or meaning of the word 'relatives'. Each of these families owns and also manages one of the houses. In most of the houses, especially in the larger ones, the head of the family is always, interestingly, a woman, who is referred to as the mother-of- the saint (or the ialorixá the local language, that is in Ketu). This head of the familly is usually seconded by the father-of the -saint (called the babalorixá in the local language). Some of the houses have a more flexible and elastic hierarchy which also allows the father-of- the saint to be the head priest instead of the mother of the saint.