Ritual as a teaching principle in Angola

Abstract

This text presents an excerpt from a Master's degree research developed in Luanda (Angola), by the Postgraduate Program in Performing Arts at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), which investigates ethnotheatrological aspects of Angolan cultural manifestations. This is specifically about discussing the relevance and possibilities of understanding certain elements of Angolan rituals as teaching principles to be considered in basic education schools, especially through working with artistic languages that turn their attention to the cultural richness of different mother tongues and corporeities of Angola. The pedagogical practice with ritualistic elements of Angolan cultural manifestations is approached here as a way of expanding opportunities — through working with artistic languages (dance, theater, music, etc.) that manifest typical ritual performances — to understand, situate and re-update the production of local knowledge.