Sat 02 Nov 2024, 16:00 – Coco, an Afro-Brazilian rhythm by Negadeza & Cocada

Coconomã e Negadeza - Seu Grito (Aurinha do Coco) (youtube.com)

What is Coco?
Coco is an African-influenced musical rhythm that originated in northern Brazil. "Coco" may also refer to the style of dance performed to the music, a kind of stomping. Coco is also alternatively known as "embolada" (another slang word, meaning "entangling", referring to the fast, slurred, machine-gun style of singing). Coco is often performed with a repetitive musical beat and call and response singing, reminiscent of Capoeira music.^[1] The music is commonly performed at traditional parties in the Northeast, such as weekend street parties and Carnival.

The characteristic sound of coco arises from four instruments commonly used in its performance: the ganzá, surdo, pandeiro, and triangle. Performers also often wear wooden clogs, the stomping of which adds a fifth percussive element.

The name "Coco" (Portuguese for "coconut") is a common Northeastern Brazilian slang for head, referring to the fact that song lyrics are often improvised. (Source: Wikipedia)

Who is Negadeza?
Negadeza, as the daughter of Dona Aurinha do Coco and granddaughter of Dona Selma do Coco, is part of a significant lineage in the coco tradition, a vibrant Afro-Brazilian cultural and musical heritage from the Northeast of Brazil. Her family has been deeply influential in preserving and promoting coco, a genre that blends dance, rhythm, and song, often centered on community storytelling, resistance, and Afro-indigenous roots.

Dona Selma do Coco, her grandmother, is one of the most renowned figures in coco, bringing the tradition to a broader audience and advocating for its cultural preservation. Negadeza continues this legacy by being actively involved in the coco community, contributing to its endurance and evolution. Her connection to these powerful women emphasizes the matriarchal transmission of knowledge and cultural memory within the coco tradition.

Negadeza’s role highlights the importance of generational continuity in maintaining Afro-Brazilian traditions and the coco culture, particularly in a world where such traditions face the pressures of modernity and commercialization. Her work, along with that of her family, strengthens the ties of community and heritage, ensuring that coco remains a living, breathing art form.

Cocada
Cocada started as a group of friends that came together to play and dance coco de roda, a beautiful folkloric tradition from the sunny Northeast region of Brazil. Coco de roda is an Afro-Indigenous-Brazilian tradition, rich cultural expression that shares stories of joy and ancestrality. We celebrate our Brazilian roots, our plural community, and the love we share for coco.

Listen Here
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wonv4FrIkF8FoaSlz57on#_=_