Our group with Josy Garcia (2nd from left) of Maracatu Ventos de Ouro
We joined Josy Garcia of Maracatu Ventos de Ouro at the Largo do Campo Grande for a workshop on Afro Brazilian maracatu nação. The name was coined to describe spaces in which African slaves were permitted to congregate and interact on plantations. It was adopted in the 1700s to describe rhythmic techniques accompanied by dances and ceremonies that reenacted crowning of the royalty of the Congo.
Coordinator Renan Ferreira on the alfaia
Largo do Campo Grande
Prof. Longaker on the alfaia
The Maracatu Ventos de Ouro group is all female and oriented by a strong commitment to feminism. The first and only of its kind in Salvador Bahia, Josy started the group with the hope of creating a space where women lead, teach, and perform rhythmic techniques traditionally reserved for men. While the group is all female, workshops are open to male identified individuals, so long as they observe the rules of the space, practice active listening, and remain conscious not to reproduce masculine privilege. Josy hopes to deconstruct machismo and masculine privilege through these processes.
Traditionally, only men were allowed to play the alfaia (drum) and women primarily played the agbê (or xequerê, a gourd with a beaded cover). Maracatu also features the caixa (snare drum) and the gonguê (iron bell). In Ventos do Ouro, women play all of the instruments.
Josy was quick to note that our session would only scratch the surface of this art. The Three hours later, everyone agreed she was right! Check out the video below for our final performance!