Cantos da floresta: temáticas indígenas na produção de canção popular de artistas da amazônia brasileira (1988-1992)

Abstract

This research investigates themes related to indigenous peoples in the production of popular songs by Nilson Chaves (PA), Raízes Caboclas (AM) and Trio Roraimeira (RR), artistas from the Amazon, between 1988 and 1992. Period in which discussions about a new Constitution were extremely important, with indigenous peoples as one of the main characters in that context. At the same time, the environmental debate took place in Brazil, due to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or popularly called “ECO-92”, held in the city of Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The objective of this study arises due to the constant uses of these Amazonian artists to indigenous references to affirm an Amazonian identity through their musical works. It was a moment of intense environmental and sociopolitical discussion, since there was an alert to the defense and affirmation of several themes in the construction process of the new Federal Constitution, such as the protection of the environment, indigenous right and duties, labor rights and others. In this sense, there is a raise in the search for indigenuos themes due to this context. To this end, the research focused mainly on searching newspapers from the states of these mentioned artists, such as Diário do Pará (PA), Jornal do Commercio (AM) and Folha de Boa Vista (RR), between 1988 and 1992. In addition, interviews were conducted with Nilson Chaves (PA), Celdo Braga (AM) and Eliakin Rufino from Trio Roraimeira (RR) to compare information and understand their trajectories as artists and their envolvement with indigenous demands and agendas. The study of the songs and trajectories of these artists allows the understanding of approaches that reinforce and/or reconstruct conceptions about indigenous peoples in the Amazonian musical scenario, depending on sociopolitical and cultural intererests.