Presentation

In the 50'

Curious, patient and observant, Pierre Verger boasted the fundamental characteristics of good researchers. However, Verger only enters the complex world of archives, old books, rare documents, oral accounts, material compilation and cataloging only after the age of 50. Verger put no limits to his curiosity, researching a multitude of topics related to the culture of the Yoruba in Bahia and Africa.

With no formal training, or stable institutional links, Verger was a self-made man, a feature that allowed him to freely develop his particular way of working. He would take notes of everything he saw and devoted the same attention to written sources as he did to the oral accounts, or material culture and rituals. On the other hand, he had the advantage of being an experienced and talented photographer. The research that led him to a greater production of written works was related to the religion of the Yoruba and their descendants in Africa and Brazil; moreover was the study of social, economic and political consequences of the slave trade to Brazil, as well as medicinal and liturgical use of plants.

Another key feature in Verger's work as a researcher is his writing style, where he chooses to carefully detail the sources and avoids interpretations. He plays a discreet role as mere narrator of information, allowing readers access to the data. As the tireless cataloger that he was, he collected a lot of data that would nurture future research as well. There is, however, unpublished material in the collection of Pierre Verger Foundation such as records, manuscripts and documents that still await the interest of new researchers.