Valter Braga

Origin

São Miguel das Missões, RS

Years Active

2026

Genres

regional music, folk culture

Biography

Valter Rodrigues Braga was a renowned Brazilian memoirist, researcher, and cultural coordinator, born in São Miguel das Missões, in Rio Grande do Sul. He dedicated a large part of his life to the preservation of the history and identity of the Jesuit-Guarani missions region, becoming a figure of great cultural relevance.

Braga was the coordinator of Manancial Missioneiro, a space that houses over 300 historical and archaeological items collected since the 1990s. He was also known for performing the traditional yerba mate ritual, inspired by indigenous practices and associated with his own ancestry. His work on behalf of regional culture earned him recognition, such as the National Social Museology Incentive Award in 2012 and the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch in São Miguel das Missões during the 2016 Olympic Games.

His dedication to the preservation of memory and gaucho traditions was widely recognized, culminating in a tribute he was to receive from the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul in May 2026. Valter Braga passed away on May 3, 2026, at the age of 61, leaving an invaluable legacy for the culture and history of Rio Grande do Sul.