This article presents the process of initiation to the Tambor de Mina, the mainreli-gious tradition in Maranh?o, a state in the north of Brazil .The Tambor de Mina designates an ec-static and inziatic religion that combines elements of different African traditions ( especially nago e jeje) with elements of the Catholic religion and of the Amerindian culture ( pajelan?ia) .The foun-dation of this article is the words of a religious specialist, and these materials were collected by the author through a long talk with the specialist .