XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

“Eu não toco o tambor, o tambor me toca”: A study on the popularization of the Congado in Belo Horizonte

• In Event: Drumming communities and the Popularization of Brazilian musical traditions

Abstract

This paper investigates the popularization of congado culture and rhythms in Belo Horizonte specially through Tambor Mineiro. Created by the musician and cultural leader Mauricio Tizumba, Tambor Mineiro is a cultural project essential for the Afro-Mineiro culture, the project is intrinsically connected to congado, a Mineiro drumming culture that dates to the 18th century. Tambor Mineiro foments music, theater, dance, and other cultural activities, also, they support, with partnership, several other cultural initiatives around the state. Tizumba is the captain of a guarda de congado called os Carolinos and is the main responsible for popularizing congado in Belo Horizonte.
Tizumba’s students learn some of the congado rhythmic patterns as part of their activities and every year many guardas de congado are invited to perform at the Festejo do Tambor Mineiro, a celebration of Afro-Mineiro culture in Belo Horizonte. I generally argue that Tizumba and his practices contribute to the maintenance and popularization of congado and community building. I demonstrate how this Afro-Mineiro culture is present on its traditional form and also it permeates the work of contemporary artists such as Meninos de Minas, Maíra Baldaia, Negras Autoras, Tom Nascimento, Elisa de Sena, Júlia Tizumba, Congadar, Jhessy Vilas, Sérgio Pererê among others.

Author

• Carolina Helena Timoteo de Oliveira, Tulane University