Territoriality, memory, and resistance in Quilombo São José de Icatú (PA): the Farinhada Dance as a practice of identity

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationships between territoriality, memory, resistance, and identity in the Quilombo São José de Icatú, located in the municipality of Mocajuba, in the state of Pará. The study focuses on the Farinhada Dance, a cultural manifestation developed by the community as a way of transmitting knowledge related to the cultivation and production of cassava flour. It seeks to understand how this practice mobilizes collective memories, strengthens intergenerational bonds, and reaffirms territorial belonging. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, descriptive study, conducted through participant observation, field notes, photographic and audiovisual records, articulated with a literature review. The theoretical framework engages with authors who discuss memory, territory, culture, and Quilombola resistance. The results indicate that the Farinhada Dance transcends the performative field, constituting itself as a community pedagogical practice, a device for cultural preservation, and a strategy for historical continuity. It is concluded that the quilombo territory is not limited to physical space, but is also a symbolic place where memories and identities are continually recreated.