The culture of Northeastern Brazil is quite diverse, having been influenced by indigenous peoples, Africans and Europeans.

Customs and traditions often vary from state to state.

Being the first region actually colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century, who met the native populations and were accompanied by Africans brought as slaves, the culture of the Northeast is very specific and typical, although extremely varied.

It is based on the Portuguese-Brazilian culture, with strong African influences (especially on the coast from Pernambuco to Bahia and in Maranhão) and Amerindian influences (especially in the semi-arid hinterland).

The cultural richness of the Northeast region is visible beyond its folkloric and popular manifestations.

Northeastern culture has its own distinctive characteristics, which are represented in various ways: handicrafts, cuisine, music, dance, rhythm, literature, theatre, among others.

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Literatura de Cordel08:45

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See also The development and history of the fine arts in the Northeast.

THE CULTURE OF THE NORTHEAST BRAZIL CONSISTS OF

• LITERATURE
• MUSIC
• DANCE
• CRAFTS
• CULINARY

1. NORTHEASTERN LITERATURE

Northeastern literature has made an important contribution to the Brazilian literary scene, with names such as João Cabral de Melo Neto, José de Alencar, Jorge Amado, Nelson Rodrigues, Rachel de Queiroz, Gregório de Matos, Clarice Lispector, Graciliano Ramos, Ferreira Gullar and Manuel Bandeira.

Also noteworthy is the cordel literature, of Portuguese and Medieval European origin, as well as popular oral manifestations such as the repente and embolada singers.

In classical music, the composers Alberto Nepomuceno, Paurillo Barroso, Liduíno Pitombeira and the conductor Eleazar de Carvalho stand out.

Northeastern rhythms inspired composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos (for example, Bachiana Brasileira No. 5, with references to the Cariri hinterland).

2. NORTHEASTERN POPULAR MUSIC

Popular music includes rhythms such as coco, xaxado, martelo agalopado, samba de roda, baião, xote, forró, axé and frevo.

The Armorial Movement, led by Ariano Suassuna in Recife, has valorised this rhythmic heritage. One of its main exponents is the singer Antônio Nóbrega.

3. NORTH-EASTERN DANCE

Among the Northeastern Dances, the most notable are Maracatu, Frevo (characteristic of Pernambuco), Bumba-meu-boi, Xaxado, Tambor-de-crioula (from Maranhão), forró and samba roda, bumba-meu-boi, xaxado, tambor-de-crioula (from Maranhão), forró and samba de roda.

The dances are usually accompanied by folkloric music and typical costumes, such as those of the baianas.

4. NORTH-EASTERN HANDICRAFTS

Northeastern handicrafts are an important form of cultural expression and source of income.

Highlights:

• Woven and embroidered nets
• Pieces of clay, wood (such as carnauba) and leather.
• Ceará lace
• Bottles of coloured sand (sold to tourists)
• Handicrafts made of buriti and babassu fibres, typical of Maranhão.

5. NORTHEASTERN CUISINE

Northeastern cuisine is extremely varied and thoughtful:

• economic conditions
• Regional geography
• Portuguese, Indigenous and African cultural mix

Typical dishes include

• tapioca, vatapá, moqueca, acarajé, baião de dois.
• Caruru, sarapatel, mugunzá, farofa, paçoca, buchada de bode
• Rapadura, queijo coalho, panelada, maria-isabel, galinha à cabidela

Other highlights:

• Bolo de rolo (from Pernambuco, Intangible Heritage)
• Cuxá, arroz de cuxá, torta de camarão, soda Jesus (from Maranhão)
• Tropical fruits: cajá, seriguela, pitomba, buriti, umbu, bacuri, juçara, among others.

In the Hinterland, beef, goat and sheep meat predominate; on the Coast, the emphasis is on fish and seafood.

See more in the menu under “Composers and Biographies” or “Culture, History and Religion in Salvador and Bahia“.

Origin, influence and richness of the Northeastern culture

Tourist Guide to the Brazilian Northeast

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