Collection: Mother Stella de Oxóssi

Maria Stella de Azevedo dos Santos was born in Salvador, in 1925, and graduated from the School of Nursing and Public Health, practicing the profession for more than 30 years. Mãe Stella, Ialorixá of Terreiro Ilê Axé Opô Afonjá, in Salvador, Bahia, was initiated into Candomblé by Mãe Senhora, in 1939. She is the author of the books: And then the enchantment happened, Meu tempo é agora, publisher Oduduwa, Òsòsi, the hunter of joys, by the Secretariat of Culture of Bahia, Òwe - Proverbs, Epé Laiyé, terra viva and Opinião. In 2001, she won the Estadão journalistic award as a promoter of culture. He received, among other titles, those of: Honorary Member of the Yorubá Temple of Puerto Rico, 1993; Dois de Julho Medal, 1997 and Maria Quitéria Medal, 1997 – Salvador City Council; Medal of Order for Cultural Merit in the Commander Class – Presidency of the Republic, 1999; Grant of the title Doctor Honoris Causa/UFBA, 2005; Zumbi dos Palmares Medal, 2005; Award of the title Doctor Honoris Causa/UNEB, 2009.
In 2013, she was unanimously elected to the Bahia Academy of Letters.