Memories and identities of the quilombola community of Cuscuz – Maracás/BA

Abstract

The objective of this article was to explore the historical formation of the community known as Rua do Cuscuz in the municipality of Maracás/Ba, through the ancestral memories of its residents, focusing on the ethnic composition of the group and collective actions aimed at reaffirming the identity through festive cultural practices. The method used was Oral History and the technique used for data collection was the semi-structured interview with audiovisual records. From this study we infer that the Cuscuz community preserves its collective identity and undertakes struggles for (re)existence even before the abolition of slavery. Among the forms of resistance, the search for sustenance through the production and sale of couscous stands out, as well as Catholic festive practices in the post-abolition period; which we understand to be a means of establishing a border dialogue with the hegemonic society of Maracás. In addition to serving as a platform for demands for constitutional rights for the quilombola people.