A congada is an Afro-Brazilian cultural and religious expression that mixes dance, singing, theater and African and Christian spirituality, specifically Catholic. Also called congado or congo, it is a festivity that celebrates Nossa Senhora do Rosário, São Benedito and Santa Efigênia, in memory of the protection that these sanctities gave to blacks enslaved. There are some congadas in which the figure of Chico Rei and the fight between Christians and Moors are also remembered.
this celebration happens in several regions of Brazil, and there is no fixed day for it, but the months of May and October, consecrated to Our Lady, usually have the celebration of the feast more frequently. In some parts of Brazil, the congada takes place in the month of December.
Read too: Folia de Reis — a traditional Catholic festival present in Brazilian culture
Topics of this article
- 1 - Origin of the congada
- 2 - Characteristics of the congada
- 3 - Congada instruments
- 4 - Congada costumes
- 5 - Apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary at sea
origin of congada
Considered a mixture of black festivals (mainly Angolan and Congolese) with Catholic religiosity, the congada yousee your origin nThe Africa, when the subjects did wI go to rhey congo, as a thank you.
With the arrival of the Portuguese to colonize the region, there was a redefinition ofIt is deities African due to the influence of Catholicism, such as São Benedito, Santa Efigênia and Nossa Senhora do Rosário, who are black saints.
This reframing was brought to the Brazil Colonyand ended up spreading, becoming an Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestation. For example, two much-celebrated figures at the Brazilian congada party is Chico Rei—a monarch of the Congo tribe who was enslaved in Brazil and worked until gather enough money to obtain his manumission, that of his son and that of the 200 other enslaved people who were part of his tribe and who were captured along with them - and the Princess Isabel, because of her role in the liberation of blacks from slavery.
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
Characteristics of the congada
the congadaaccount the story of the visit of ambassador of angola TheO rhey from congo on a party day. This visit is almost ended with a war, and, although it did not occur, there was a fight between the Angolans, who were Moors, and the subjects of the King of Congo, who were Christians, being defeated by the Christians.
The congada dance represents the coronation of the king of Congo, the reason for the party. The procession of the congada is called a suit or a guard, so that for each suit there is a leader.
In the choreographies, also they are represented the fights between the Moors and Christians. Each group is lined up facing the other, and the participants choreograph a fight with each other, with sticks. The “blows” signal the tempo of the music.
at parties, um couple é taken to church to be crowned like the kings of the party, the intention is to maintain the tradition of the enslaved couple who were taken to the church to be crowned. Due to the presence of Catholic elements in the party, the sound of drums in the church is accepted.
the congada have from 50 to 200 participants. These participants are divided into 50 characters, distributed as follows:
Congeal from above: formed by the ambassador, the secretary, the procession and the warriors.
Bottom congee: formed by the king, the queen, the princes, the cacique, the nobles or vassals and the children, called “conguinhos”.
Each region that performs the congada adds its characteristics and traditions, nothing being necessarily standardized.
See too: Afro-Brazilian religions and syncretism
congada instruments
The musical instruments used are:
opossum;
box;
tambourine;
reco-reco;
cavaquinho;
viola;
guitar;
snare drum;
drum;
tambourine;
ganza;
accordion;
fiddle;
violin;
accordion.
The instruments accompany the singing, in Portuguese, which may contain words from the Bantu language. The corner is pulled by one person and the crowd follows the chorus. In the lyrics of the congada appear the suffering of slavery and all the lamentations of the period; the invocation of the saints and the forces from above; and songs of hope and redemption, in the hope of a better life.
Congada costumes
Clothes are very important in the congada, as they represent the hierarchy and characters of the party. Such clothing constitutes: wshirts, cloaks, hats, swords and scarves. They must be made of comfortable fabrics that allow for dance movements.
There are also colorful ribbons and flags that bring the image of the saints and that identify the different groups of the procession. Already to the jewels and the king's crown are usually huge, showing the wealth of African nobility.
Apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary at sea
The apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary at sea is a legend that is part of the manifestation of the congada. In this legend, an image of Nossa Senhora do Rosário appears in the sea and several groups of white people try to rescue it, but the image is unreachable for them. The last group to try is the enslaved, who look for it singing and dancing, and manage to bring it to the coast.
image credits
[1] Erica Catarina Pontes / Shutterstock
[2] Erica Catarina Pontes / Shutterstock
[3] Erica Catarina Pontes / Shutterstock
By Erica Caetano
Journalist
Discover the bumba meu boi festival, an important Brazilian cultural and folkloric event. Learn the other names of this festival and when it is usually celebrated.
Click here and find out what carimbó is and where it comes from. Know its main characteristics and types.
Click here, learn about the origin of the catira and find out about the movements and costumes of this popular dance.
Click here to understand the relationship between cultural diversity and the social inequality that constitute Brazilian culture.
Access this text and learn how slavery occurred in Brazil over its more than 300 years of existence. Also understand how slavery was abolished in 1888.
Access and learn more about Brazilian folklore. See the studies produced in the area and meet characters and manifestations of our folklore.
Click here and learn about maracatu, a popular manifestation that emerged in Pernambuco. Also find out what their types are and the instruments used.
