Territory and identity are interconnected elements when we talk about the Kalunga do Mimoso quilombo, located in Tocantins. The community is situated within the larger Kalunga territory, composed of descendants of enslaved Black people who escaped from mining camps. From their ancestors, they learned about African cultures, such as Suça. With dance, swirling skirts, songs, viola, drums, and tambourines, this cultural expression marks religious celebrations, harvests, and village festivities.
Beyond this historical legacy, the Kalunga people of Mimoso also carry on the food culture of their ancestors. Sun-dried meat paçoca, mungunzá (a type of sweet corn porridge), tapioca, cooked meat, saffron, and many other delicacies add to the biodiversity of the Cerrado and are an integral part of the community's daily life. During Black Awareness Month, we remember that the Kalunga people of Mimoso resist and preserve their territory, conquered through struggle and respect for the environment. In the rhythm of the Suça dance, through community organization, food diversity, and the legacy of their ancestors, they have found the path to freedom.
The Kalunga community of Mimoso receives support from our fund for the Promotion of Productive Eco-social Landscapes (PPP-ECOS), through funding from the Amazon Fund. The community's project focuses on youth training, infrastructure, and the identification of this intangible heritage to enrich a tourism plan that unites culture and the environment, aiming to provide another income alternative for the community in the future.
Program about the Kalunga people of Mimoso
Check out the episode about the Kalunga people of Mimoso on the Canto da Coruja Comunidade audio program. click here.