Mestra Beba Lima preserves coco de roda tradition in Brazil
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In Alagoa Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, Josefa Maria, known as Mestra Beba Lima, carries on the tradition of coco de roda, a circle dance with music, and shares her knowledge with her community.
Beba began learning the culture at age seven, accompanying her grandfather who played the triângulo (a triangle-shaped percussion instrument) in the quilombo, a settlement founded by escaped enslaved people.
She practiced with makeshift instruments, horse stirrups and spoons, before joining the women’s groups As Caianas and Brilho do Coco. Beba views coco de roda as a celebration of community accomplishments despite facing racism, sexism, and prejudice. She actively teaches younger generations, participating in projects that share cultural knowledge and keep the tradition alive. Her compositions draw inspiration from the stories of her ancestors and community members, like her grandfather's experience with love and loss, which she transforms into song.
Mestra Beba also hopes to revive the practice of accompanying coco de roda with bandinhas de pífanos, small bands playing pife (a type of flute). She is currently learning to play the instrument herself, promising future musical additions to the tradition.
