Performance Selected Through the Culture in Motion Call for Proposals Showcases the Tradition of Repente Singing

"Noite da Viola Nordestina" was one of the projects selected through the Socio-Urban Actions Plan (PAS) initiative.

Maceió, June 3, 2026 - Among the many cultural traditions of Northeastern Brazil, the viola and repente stand out as some of the region's oldest and most cherished art forms. This unique tradition, built on the art of improvised rhyming verse, was celebrated during the " Noite da Viola Nordestina " festival, which opened Maceió's June cultural programming. Held in the Bom Parto neighborhood, the event brought together master violeiros and repentistas (improvisational folk poets and singers) from Alagoas and neighboring Northeastern states. The gathering was one of the projects selected through the "Culture in Motion" Call for Proposals, an initiative of the Socio-Urban Actions Plan (PAS).

Beyond celebrating popular culture, the event also paid tribute to the legacy of a true master: Elias Procópio de Lima, better known as João Procópio, an Alagoas native who has dedicated 60 years to the art of viola music and repente . Since 2005, he has been officially recognized as a Living Heritage of Alagoas.

Procópio's connection to this artistic tradition began unexpectedly. He spent six years living in Rio de Janeiro, where he first encountered the repentistas and violeiros who regularly performed at the São Cristóvão Fair. " When I first started performing with the viola, I was a coquista, one of the singers who perform at open-air markets accompanied by a tambourine.I was also a cordel literature vendor.When I returned to Northeastern Brazil, I wanted nothing more than to dedicate myself to the viola, and I've been doing so ever since. I started in my twenties, and today I'm 86 years old ," he recalls.

The master artist founded the Association of Viola Players and Troubadours of Alagoas (AVTA) and created the Poets in Schools Project, both aimed at preserving and transmitting this cultural tradition. He points out that it is crucial to spark interest among the younger generation, which is why he supports educational initiatives in schools. There, talented students can be identified, encouraged, and given the foundation necessary to develop their potential.

" A violeiro needs to read extensively in order to respond through repente. Inspiration can come from nature or from the people around us, but a repentista must be quick-witted. Sometimes you momentarily lose track of how to respond because everything is created on the spot. Talent is the starting point, but it must be refined ," he says

An Art Form Built on Partnership

One of the guest master performers was Edvaldo 'Zuzu', from the state of Pernambuco, who has maintained a longstanding partnership with João Procópio since the 1990s. Over the years, invitations to perform together evolved into a lasting friendship.

" What we do as artists cannot be done alone; it requires partnership. Beyond having someone to share the challenge of improvisation, it means having a companion to share the journey, the rewards of performing, and the work itself. It's impossible not to build friendships in our field," says Zuzu.

Among the audience members at the free public event was teacher Adinelma Pereira da Silva, who began attending performances after being encouraged by her friend Maria José dos Santos, an enthusiastic admirer of the tradition. Known affectionately as Dona Zeza, Maria José says cantoria de viola has always been part of her life.Her brother was a violeiro , and she enjoyed accompanying him to performances. Today, she has developed close friendships with many of the master performers, rarely misses an event, and even enjoys a special cantoria performance every year to celebrate her birthday.

Inspired by Dona Zeza, Adinelma has been attending these events for the past four years. " At first, I would stay for only part of the performance, but now I watch until the very end. I find their work fascinating. Whether they are performing at a major event or for a smaller audience, their dedication is exactly the same. Their creativity is truly remarkable to witness, " she says.

About PAS

The Socio-Urban Actions Plan (PAS) is provided for under the Socio-Environmental Agreement entered into by Brazil's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) and Braskem, with the participation of the State Public Prosecutor's Office (MPE) and the adherence of the Municipality of Maceió.