Identity, belonging, spirituality, and formation in Afro-Brazilian communities: A decolonial dialogue between urban ministry and educational and child psychology

This thematic reflection explores identity, belonging, spirituality, and formation in Afro-Brazilian communities through a decolonial dialogue between Urban Ministry and Educational and Child Psychology (ECP). It argues that Black history is not merely a contextual backdrop to development, but an active, formative ecology encountered through family and cultural memory, music, spirituality, shared meals, resistance, and community participation. Drawing on developmental and cultural psychology, decolonial psychology, culturally sustaining pedagogy, community cultural wealth, and Afro-Brazilian scholarship, the paper examines how historically racialised communities sustain forms of learning and belonging beyond formal institutions. Within this reflection, particular attention is given to the complexity of spirituality in Afro-Brazilian contexts, including the coexistence of Christianity, Ifá, Umbanda, and Candomblé as part of a broader ecology of meaning-making that also encompasses samba and community-based table practices. A brief vignette from community engagement in Brazil illustrates how identity and belonging may be formed through everyday communal participation. The reflection concludes with insights for ECPs to deepen decolonial and culturally sustaining practice by recognising community cultural life not simply as background or protective context, but as a source of developmental knowledge, agency, resilience, and epistemic legitimacy.