Mestra Ana do Coco

Origin

Conde, PB

Also known as

Ana Rodrigues da Silva, Ana Lúcia Rodrigues do Nascimento, Ana do Coco

Years Active

1984

Genres

coco de roda, popular culture, ciranda

Instruments

zabumba, pandeiro, ganzá

Biography

Mestra Ana do Coco, whose birth name is Ana Rodrigues da Silva, was born on December 15, 1962, in the Ipiranga quilombola community, in Conde, Paraíba. The daughter of Mestra Dona Lenita and the granddaughter of Dona Lina Rodrigues and Seu Zé Pequeno, Ana do Coco is a multifaceted figure: quilombola, artisan, actress, writer, militant, cultural activist, community leader, and educator. Since childhood, she has been immersed in the rich tradition of coco de roda, learning and creating cocos alongside her mother and absorbing the knowledge transmitted by older generations.

Her trajectory is marked by the appreciation of ancestral knowledge and the defense of the identity and rights of Black communities. In 1984 and 1985, alongside her mother, she led the revitalization movement of coco de roda and ciranda in the region, ensuring the intergenerational transmission of this cultural manifestation. Currently, she coordinates Coco de Roda Novo Quilombo, a group that keeps the tradition of Coco Praieiro de umbigada alive, with influences from Bantu and Indigenous peoples. The group promotes the Festa do Coco, a monthly event that brings together artists and communities from various parts of Brazil, consolidating the Ipiranga community as a cultural hub.

In addition to her work as a mestra, Ana do Coco is an educator and multiplier of knowledge. Through the Clamores Antigos project, she promotes activities with children and youth, encouraging knowledge about Afro-Brazilian and African history and culture, stimulating youth leadership, and strengthening community ties. Her work is nationally recognized, with her group receiving the Cultura Viva/MINC Award in 2010 and the Leandro Gomes de Barros Award in 2017. Mestra Ana do Coco is a guardian of popular culture, whose work is fundamental for the preservation and diffusion of Afro-Brazilian traditions.