“Entre arte, cultura e axé”: Cirandeira Danças Brasileiras e a Festa da Uva em Caxias do Sul/RS

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the expressiveness of Afro-Brazilian religiosities, with an emphasis on those of Yoruba origin, in the performances of the Cirandeira Danças Brasileiras group, from Caxias do Sul. The objective is to broaden the debates on the Afro-religious presence in Serra Gaúcha, in Rio Grande do Sul, through qualitative research carried out during the group's participation in the 33ª Festa Nacional da Uva, in 2022. The research reflects on the ethnic formation of Caxias do Sul, considering the different migrant groups and their religious practices, and highlights the importance of the Festa da Uva in the cultural construction of the city, by rescuing the history of Italian immigration and evoking the memories of the first colonies. At the same time, the relevance of the Afro-religious presence in the municipality is emphasized, as an essential element of local cultural diversity, contributing to the multiplicity of cultural and religious expressions in the region. This context enables the analysis of the narratives of exclusion generated from the artistic performances of the Cirandeira group, highlighting the power relations and processes of marginalization that emerge from these representations, which are constructed within the scope of the interaction between the group and the public, reflecting the social and cultural dynamics. The theoretical basis adopted is interdisciplinary, with contributions from Anthropology, History and Philosophy, with emphasis on the epistemologies of popular cultures, proposed by Luiz Antonio Simas and Luiz Rufino. The narratives analyzed reveal discourses marked by tensions and symbolic disputes over the legitimacy of social belonging, with an emphasis on issues of religiosity, race and gender in Caxias do Sul.