maracatu
Afro-Brazilian percussion ritual
Maracatu is an Afro-Brazilian musical tradition and processional dance from northeastern Brazil, particularly Pernambuco.
It features heavy percussion—especially the alfaia drums—call-and-response singing, and elaborately costumed performers representing African royalty.
The term refers both to the musical genre and to the carnival groups that perform it: The maracatu bloc paraded through Recife.
Ceremonial public procession
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- floatsRemains on surface
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
masks · revelry · pageantry · procession · spectacle · confetti · dancers · banner
Custom passed through generations
- legacyWhat's passed down
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
lineage · customs · patrimony · intangible · UNESCO · Northeastern · Brazilian · historical
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- drummingPercussive rhythm-making
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
groove · pulse · ensemble · call-and-response · drummers
Fusion of different beliefs
- spiritualRelating to the soul
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
Designing performance movement sequences
- footworkSkilled lower-limb movement
- movementsChanges in position
- stepsSequential actions in process
- troupeTraveling group of performers
ensemble · performance · expression · swaying · processional · circular · ceremonial · folkloric
Joining into unity
- contemporaryOf the present age
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- ruralOf the countryside
- urbanPertaining to cities
parade
Ceremonial public procession
masquerade · masks · revelry · pageantry · procession · spectacle · confetti · dancers · banner · sequins
tradition
Custom passed through generations
preservation · lineage · customs · patrimony · intangible · UNESCO · Northeastern · Brazilian · historical · ancestral
polyrhythm
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- drummingPercussive rhythm-making
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
tempo · groove · pulse · ensemble · call-and-response · drummers
syncretism
Fusion of different beliefs
coronation · queen · king · court · ritual
choreography
Designing performance movement sequences
troupe · ensemble · performance · expression · swaying · processional · circular · ceremonial · folkloric · graceful
fusion
Joining into unity
- contemporaryOf the present age
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- ruralOf the countryside
- BrazilRio, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Amazon River
- Afro-Latin musicsalsa, cumbia, reggae, merengue, bachata
- Brazilian Culturesamba, capoeira, bossa nova, futebol, Copacabana
- Brazilian Musicsamba, bossa nova, axe, carnival music, Carmen Miranda
- Latin American Musictango, samba, bossa nova, cumbia, bolero
- Lusophone Culturesamba, fado, bossa nova, axe, capoeira