Quebramar na Escola continues to bring culture and knowledge to public-school students in Amapá. This Wednesday (9th), the project arrived in the municipality of Santana, with morning activities at the Iranilde de Araújo Ferreira Municipal School of Basic Education and afternoon activities at the José Barroso Tostes State School. The initiative is part of the Preamar phase, the first stage of the 8th edition of Festival Quebramar, which has master sponsorship from Petrobras, through the Petrobras Cultural programme, made possible by the Rouanet Law. In this edition, the project travels to schools in Macapá, Santana, Mazagão and Oiapoque, encouraging children and teenagers to recognise their experiences, territories and stories as sources of knowledge and expression.
In the morning, students at the Iranilde de Araújo Ferreira Municipal School took part in a Storytelling session with writer and marabaixeira Laura do Marabaixo. With music, narrative and elements of Afro-Amapá tradition, the artist presented aspects of the history of Black people in Amapá and of Marabaixo, one of the state’s most important cultural expressions.
Laura’s engaging way of leading the activity drew the students in and also caught the attention of teachers and school staff.
For teacher Maria de Fátima, the initiative gave the pupils an opportunity to recognise their own culture through a playful and heartfelt experience.
“It was a wonderful moment of reconnecting with our own culture. The way Laura told this story, singing, playing and involving the children, was very moving. It is an important experience for our pupils to know and value our history and to see the beauty and strength of our state’s culture.”
Literature and communication in students’ hands
In the afternoon, it was the turn of the José Barroso Tostes State School to host the Quebramar na Escola programme. Students took part in the Handmade Book workshop, led by writer and poet Pat Andrade, and the Media Activism workshop, led by singer-songwriter Bell Brandão and writer and songwriter Gabriel Guimarães.
During the activities, the students explored different possibilities of creation and communication, learning to use writing, handmade production and digital tools to express ideas, experiences and stories from their territories. The proposal sparked the students’ interest; they took an active part in the workshops and were able to try out, in practice, new ways of producing and sharing knowledge.
For the school’s pedagogical coordinator, the project helps broaden the teenagers’ cultural repertoire and bring them closer to reading, writing and different contemporary languages.
“Our teenagers need access to information and experiences that broaden their knowledge of the culture of the state where they live. When they have the chance to work with reading, writing and creation, they also develop their own intellect. Learning to make a book, for example, strengthens knowledge, stimulates creativity and contributes to their educational development.”
The programme also featured singer-songwriter Jhimmy Feiches, who presented his songs and performances to the school audience. With a sound that draws on the Amazonian pop scene and incorporates regional references, including Marabaixo, the artist turned the close of the activity into a moment of music, interaction and celebration.
For Aldine Moura, executive producer of Festival Quebramar, the experience offered by the project goes beyond students’ contact with different artistic expressions. The intention is to show that they too can take on the role of creators and communicators.
“We want to encourage children and teenagers to realise that they are also the authors of their own stories. They can express themselves through words, music, the handmade book or communication tools. By creating these spaces for experimentation, we enable them to discover new languages and understand that their experiences, their territories and their communities also have stories worth telling.”
Culture that travels across territories
In its 8th edition, Festival Quebramar returns to Macapá with the theme “Integrating the Guianas”, offering a programme focused on original and independent music, cultural exchange and the circulation of artists and professionals of the cultural chain.
The festival will have activities in different stages until November. After Quebramar na Escola come the Batalha de Bandas, with applications from September 20 to October 5, and Maré Lançante, scheduled for September 26 at Parque Residência. The main programme will take place from October 27 to November 1, facing the Amazon River, in Macapá.
Next Quebramar na Escola activities
Mazagão — September 15
Professor Pedro Correia de Souza Municipal Primary School
Afternoon, 1 pm to 3 pm
Programme: Storytelling and Concert with Laura do Marabaixo.
Fagundes Varela State School — Carvão community
Afternoon, 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Programme: Media Activism with Bell Brandão and Gabriel Guimarães; Handmade Book and Conversation Circle with Pat Andrade; Concert with the band Luxuosos Corações.
Oiapoque — September 23
Márcia do Socorro Municipal School
Morning, 8 am to 10 am
Programme: Storytelling and Concert with Anthony Barbosa.
Jorge Iaparrá State Indigenous School
Afternoon, 2 pm to 4 pm
Programme: Media Activism with Bell Brandão; Handmade Book and Conversation Circle with Pat Andrade; Concert with “Dois”.
