Maculelê

Maculelê manifests a strong dramatic expression, a high point of popular festivals. Participants were normally male and danced in groups clashing batons to the rhythm of the atabaques (drums) and the sound of the chants in a popular language or African dialects. Of all the festivals existing in Santo Amaro (a city noted for the green of its sugar cane fields), maculelê was the most colourful. It’s vibrating rhythm was very contagious.

It’s origins are unclear. It’s believed to have come from Africa and flourished in the XVIII century in the sugar cane fields in Santo Amaro where it had been used in festivals for more than 200 years. One of  the most significant records of it was in a note of mourning published by the newspaper ´O Popular´ 10th of December 1873 which circulated in Santo Amaro. ´On the first of December the African Raimunda Quiteria passed away at the age of 110. In spite of her age, she still used to cut the grass and sweep the front and back of the ‘Church of Purification’ for the maculelê festival.´

At the start of this century, after the death of one of the grand masters of maculelê in that city, the festival started to disappear. For many years it was no longer a part of the festivals of the Patron saint. In 1943 Paulino Aluisio de Andrade, another master who was known as Popo do Maculelê and was considered to be the father of maculelê in Brazil, reunited family and friends to teach them how to dance based on his memories. His intention was to have it re-introduced in local religious festivals. His group became known as ‘Conjunto de Maculelê de Santo Amaro’.

Puxada de Rede

The “puxada de rede”, or pulling of the net, is a common activity in the Brazilian coast. It is practiced by fishers and it sustains lots of Brazilian families. The ritual of “puxada de rede” is extremely beautiful and therefore it has been incorporated in capoeira shows.
The ritual of “puxada de rede” is practiced by a group of men commanded by the Master of the sea. They prepare the net using short trousers or shorts and a straw hat.
The net is thrown into the sea when the chanting begins. Soon the Master gives the sign to pull the net, which is the beginning of the “puxada de rede” with the motion of taking the net out of the sea. Their wives help them waiting anxiously, singing and clapping for them on the beach. The fishes get cleaned, they thank for the good fishing and celebrate. 

“My raft is going out to the sea... I will work, my beloved. When I come back, if it is God’s will, I will bring one good fish… My companions will also come back, and we will thank our Lord of the sky….”(Dorival Caymmi)

 

Samba de Roda

Just like capoeira, samba has African roots. It arrived in Brazil brought by black Africans and became a part of our folklore, being presented in capoeira shows and presentations together with “Maculelê” and “Puxada de rede”.
 Nowadays samba is practiced a lot in events and end of rodas, when capoeiristas relax by dancing. It is the manifestation of the vagabond soul, in which girls show off their skills dancing the “samba no pé” with the men and spreading all their grace and sensuality.

“Oh morena grab me
Take me to the samba
I belong to the samba
I came to dance samba
Olê, lê baiana….”