1,000 copies will be distributed to schools, libraries and cultural spaces in the region
From this Tuesday, August 20, the tradition of Fandango Caiçara will come to life with the release of CDs produced with the support of TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, through the Culture Incentive Law. The physical versions of the discs will be available at special events at schools in the region and at the 15th National Fandango Caiçara Festival, which takes place between September 20 and 25.
A total of 4,000 copies were produced, distributed equally among the Mandicuera, Mestre Romão, Mestre Brasílio and Pés de Ouro groups. Of these, 250 units from each Fandango group will be donated to schools, libraries and cultural spaces. The first performances begin on Tuesday (20), at the Cidália Rebello Gomes School, with the Pés de Ouro Group, at 4pm, and the Mandicuera Group, at 9pm. On Wednesday, the Mestre Brasílio Group will perform at 10am at the Iracema dos Santos School.
Mestre Aorelio, one of the musicians from the Mandicuera Group, highlights the importance of recording Fandango music: “It’s essential to record this musicality for new generations and make it accessible to everyone who wants to learn it. With these CDs, as well as encouraging the groups, we hope that radio stations and other media outlets will value the music of the city itself,” he says.
With regard to the production of the CDs, the recordings took place in July this year, on Valadares Island, at the Papagaio Loro Records Studio, located at the Mandicuera Popular Culture Association. “It’s important to preserve and promote Parnanguara culture, so that this heritage isn’t lost over time and can be valued by several generations,” said Rafael Stein, TCP’s institutional and legal manager. “Supporting this production was very significant for us, as it is a way of capturing the talent of local musicians and ensuring that this tradition is recorded and celebrated.”
Fandango Caiçara CDs keep the Parnanguara tradition alive
For nearly 500 years, the caiçaras have inhabited the coast of Paraná and southern Rio de Janeiro, where the Fandango Caiçara, recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by IPHAN since 2012, unites music, dance and poetry in a unique cultural expression. This tradition, the result of the miscegenation of indigenous, European and African cultures, is more than a dance; it is a symbol of identity for the caiçara communities.
TCP, through the “Cultural Asset Management Program: Fandango Caiçara Intangible Heritage”, covers a series of fronts and initiatives aimed at rescuing, safeguarding and perpetuating this cultural tradition. This program originated as part of the TCP expansion licensing process with the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN). Since 2016, the program has been structured in conjunction with the holders of the fandango, highlighting a holistic approach to the preservation of regional culture.
In addition to producing the CDs, TCP sponsored the 2019 and 2022 editions of the National Caiçara Fandango Festival, supported the radio program “No Vanzeiro do Fandango”, renovated the Mestre Brasílio and Mestre Nemésio spaces, the Mandicuera Association and the Mestre Romão Group (Casa de Fandango Mestre Eugênio), which are used for the groups’ rehearsals and performances, and delivered costumes, equipment and musical instruments.
Another significant milestone was the closure in March of this year of the Caxeta Project, in which TCP participated in the drafting of IAT Ordinance No. 466, which regulates the extraction of wood used in the construction of musical instruments, thus protecting the Caiçara Fandango culture and guaranteeing the legality of activities involving local artisans and luthiers.
All these initiatives reinforce TCP’s commitment to protecting and guaranteeing the continuity of this rich cultural tradition. The Fandango songs are already available on all digital platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music, Amazon, among others – link to access) and the CDs can be purchased in their physical version during the XV Festa Nacional do Fandango Caiçara de Paranaguá, ensuring the continuity and accessibility of caiçara traditions. The festival will feature panel discussions, workshops, typical cuisine and dances that will last until dawn.
14th Paranaguá Caiçara Fandango Festival
Date: August 20-25
To see the full program, go to: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-v0eS0OhtM/?igsh=Z2J4a2djOGFhdDJl
The digital version is free and available at https://linktr.ee/papagaiolororecords. The physical version will be sold by the fandango groups for R$25.00 each.
Information: mandicueraculturapopular@gmail.com
