BODY, DRUM, AND AFRO-BRAZILIAN MUSIC: Adults’ Musical Experiences in the Ingoma Group Workshops

Abstract

This paper presents research conducted with Grupo Ingoma, a cultural association dedicated to studying and preserving Minas Gerais drumming, as well as the legacy of Congado festivals in the region (Lucas, 2014; Martins, 2021). The investigation aimed to understand the process of musical initiation during the four modules and study groups offered, and the impact of the Congado tradition on its participants. Using a qualitative approach involving participant observation (Queiroz, 2017; Campbell, 2013), we observed and recorded activities in two classes (Module 1 and Study Group) between March and July 2025. We also incorporated autoethnographic reflections (Benetti, 2017) based on the author's experience of participating in the workshops since 2022. The course's teaching methodology is based on the O Passo method (Ciavatta, 2009), which promotes student autonomy by integrating body and cognition (Freire, 2021). Congado rhythms and songs from the Brazilian popular repertoire are played on the tambor mineiro (caixa de folia), combining traditional knowledge with music teaching processes. The results indicate that the workshops play a significant role in musical training and the appreciation and reinterpretation of Afro-Brazilian traditions, particularly Congado. This tradition has been erased from the city in which the workshops are held, and the workshops strengthen social relations and collective practice.