“Quem são vocês? Ubirajara! : memória, tradição e conflitos do carnaval

Abstract

This study stems from my passion for Carnival and, in particular, Carnival groups. During a discussion about collective memory and festivals, I learned about the “Tribo de Índio Ubirajara do Rangel” group, which has been a part of João Pessoa’s Carnival for over 70 years and serves as a socio-educational space for young people in the region. My goal is to analyze and explore this space, as well as its members, observing how this memory is constructed and establishes relationships that shape the identities present there. I also aim to understand the significance of Carnival and the group in shaping them as participants and characters in Brazilian culture, in both historical and contemporary contexts. Drawing on Leda Martins’ (2021) understanding of the importance of gatherings for the formation of memory and identities—and how rich they are in social and cultural dynamics—I highlight that every Tuesday and Thursday, from September through March, Ubirajara meets to dance, let loose, and have fun. I also seek to understand how Carnival is constituted by both individual and collective memory (Halbwachs, 1950; Pollak, 1989; Rios, 2013). Through the concept of “coetaneity” proposed by Fabian (2006), I reflect—based on my ethnographic experience—on the ways of learning I experienced alongside the members of Ubirajara, which led me, through play and sharing, to form friendships and bonds that were fundamental to my understanding of my field of study. Methodologically, I used recorded, semi-structured interviews and informal conversations, in addition to attending rehearsals and studying participants’ life trajectories to understand the carnival as they practice it. Finally, I focused on investigating the nature of the conflicts that are staged but also experienced on the ground due to the process of factionalization within the peripheral communities of João Pessoa. Therefore, I seek to observe how the existence of this tradition is also linked to the structural, territorial, economic, and social struggles that traditional groups face in order to continue moving forward