Originally incorporated into the Congo Carnival of Water Wheel Masks, the figure of João Bananeira balances fantasy and reality of the folkloric identity of congada. With his face covered by a mask and his body covered in banana leaves, the character joins the procession, igniting the imagery of congo's party.
In the middle of the procession, enslaved black people put on masks to cover their faces and even wore socks on their arms so as not to be identified and thus participate in the procession. Over time, it became a joke and was incorporated into the tradition of the folk festival.
Previously, with traditions still more deeply rooted, in order to avoid being identified, the masked people would dress up in banana plantations in the rural area of the municipality.
The dance and irreverence of the masked people accompany the sound of drums and the voices of the congueiros (congo) who sing old songs to honor the patron saint of Espírito Santo, Nossa Senhora da Penha. The memory accompanies the history of the congo in the city, reinforced in the icon of the popular manifestation represented by João Bananeira.
Heritage of Cariacica
And such historical importance means that the character's existence is perpetuated and protected. In 2020, the Municipal Secretariat of Culture (Semcult) registered the Congo Carnival of Masks and João Bananeira as intangible heritage of the city of Cariacica. The action was documented through Municipal Decrees no. 117 and no. 118 of July 3, 2020.
In this way, the Congo Mask Carnival is preserved in its features, not allowing adaptations, and having the congo groups and bands of Cariacica as the protagonists and producers for the event.
The character João Bananeira is also guaranteed in this preservation: the description of his clothing was recorded, including the traditional way of making skirts and masks, made from banana leaves and recycled material.
The folklore icon also has his own day. Last year, Law No. 6,495 was created, which established João Bananeira Day in the official municipal calendar, to be celebrated on the first working day after Congo Carnival. This is yet another sign of recognition of the importance of preserving Cariacica's memory.
Cultural incentive law
The folkloric figure is so important within the municipality that the main public policy of financial incentive for culture is named after João Bananeira, which relies on the direct transfer of the benefit to artists and cultural producers residing in the city.
The law created in 2005 benefits initiatives in the areas of musical arts, performing arts (dance, theater, circus, opera and the like), audiovisual arts (cinema, video and the like), visual arts (collage, engravings, photography, fashion, landscaping, decoration, cartoons, comics and the like), material and immaterial heritage, literary arts, plastic arts, popular culture (carnival, folklore, capoeira and crafts and the like), and contemporary art (new media, performance, installation, digital manipulation and so on).
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