Maracatu Nação

Maracatu Nação, also known as Maracatu de Baque Virado, is a type of maracatu, a musical rhythm, dance and ritual of religious syncretism that originated in the state of Pernambuco. It is the oldest

History#

The oldest record of Maracatu Nação dates back to 1711, but the year of its origin is uncertain. However, it is clear that it originated in Pernambuco and has transformed ever since. There are Maracatu Nação groups all over Brazil, as well as abroad, especially in Europe and North America.

Parade#

The maracatu parades are an example of the ancient African courts, since the blacks, when kidnapped and sold into slavery, carried their titles of nobility back to Brazil. The parade is formed by a flag or banner opening the wings. At the back is the dama do paço, who carries the mystical calunga, representing all the group’s spiritual entities. Respectively, the iabás (popularly called baianas) follow and, shortly afterwards, the court, the king and queen of the maracatu, titles handed down hereditarily. This wing represents the nobility of the Nação. On each side are the slaves or catirinas, usually young women wearing chiton dresses. Keeping the rhythm of the parade, the batuqueiros follow. The instruments are diverse: alfaias, boxes or taróis, ganzás and abês, these led by women who are at the head of the group and who make their playing a spectacle in itself.

Characters#

The characters that comprise the parade include the following: * Porta-estandarte: carries the banner containing the name of the association, a figure that represents it and the year it was created; * Dama do paço: a woman who carries a calunga (a richly dressed wooden doll that symbolizes a dead queen or entity) in one hand; * King and queen: the most important figures in the parade; * Vassal: a slave who carries the pallium (the parasol that protects kings); * Ladies of the court: wealthy ladies who do not hold noble titles; * Iabás: female slaves; * Batuqueiros: they animate the procession by playing several instruments, such as war boxes, alfaias, gonguê, shekeres and maracas; * Court figures such as princes, ministers and ambassadors.

Gallery#

File:Maracatu Estrelha Brilhante do Recife - 0144.jpg link= Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante from Recife. File:Dona Santa, Rainha do Maracatu Elefante.jpg link= Dona Santa, Queen of Maracatu Elefante, c. 1935. File:Maracatus na Igreja do Rosário dos Pretos de Olinda.jpg link= Maracatus at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men in Olinda, the first church in Brazil to belong to a black brotherhood. File:Maracatu Nação (3).jpg link= Percussion of Maracatu Nação, featuring an alfaia. File:Encontro estadual de maracatus.jpg link= Women playing abê. File:20º Encontro Estadual dos Maracatus de Baque Solto - Carnaval 2010.jpg link= Carnival in Olinda.

Genre family: Brazilian styles of music