Teatro afro-amapaense: a gênese do engajamento e da resistência negra nos palcos de macapá

Abstract

This work investigates the trajectory of Black theater in Brazil, focusing on its dimensions of engagement and resistance in contemporary times, specifically in the theatrical scene of Macapá, Amapá. The central objective is to analyze the presence and performance of groups and artists in the state who develop works focused on engaged Black theater. The theoretical framework ranges from the pioneering work of the Companhia Negra de Operetas e Revista (Black Operetta and Revue Company) and the legacy of the Teatro Experimental do Negro (TEN) (Experimental Black Theater), founded by Abdias Nascimento, to the contemporary manifestations and developments of this artistic expression in the Amapá context. Methodologically, the research is based on bibliographic and documentary review, combined with an analysis of the production of groups and artists active in the local scene. The results highlight the importance of the Theater Degree course at the Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP) in training professionals aware of their social and aesthetic role. It is evident that Afro-Amapá theater has built a significant trajectory, articulating strategies for its social recognition as a territory of power and resistance, capable of confronting and overcoming historical challenges. This process implies the recovery of ancestral traditions and the promotion of empowerment through scenic practices, directly engaging with cultural manifestations such as Marabaixo and Batuque. Thus, the research highlights the crucial role of this artistic production in challenging and destabilizing structural racism and other forms of oppression historically imposed on the Afro-Amapá population.