“Samba de coco do cerrado”

Representações, cultura material e territorialidade na obra de Martinha do Coco

Abstract

This article examines the symbolic, sociocultural, and material dimensions of the "samba de coco do cerrado" in the work of Martinha do Coco, an emblematic figure in the popular culture of Brasília, the capital of Brazil. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the study combines in-depth interviews with analyses of album covers, song lyrics, and musical elements. Grounded in Stuart Hall’s cultural studies (2016), Daniel Miller’s material culture theory (2013), and Jan Simon Hutta’s concept of "affective territories" (2020), the research explores how Martinha’s musical practices reinterpret traditions from Brazil's Northeast within the context of Brasília. These practices create territorialities that bridge collective memory, ancestry, and contemporary experiences. The study emphasizes the central role of women in her work, highlighting how it challenges gender stereotypes and transforms experiences of mourning into a cultural legacy. The celebration of popular culture emerges as a space of solace and resistance, fostering innovation and contributing to processes of reterritorialization. The research concludes that the "samba de coco do cerrado" represents a practice of (re)existence, where ancestry, collectivity, and belonging converge to envision more inclusive and plural futures.