On September 12, approximately 245 students, including children and teenagers, from the Getúlio Vargas Quilombola Municipal School, located in the district of Capanema, in Maragojipe, had the opportunity to take part in a playful and educational “storytelling” of traditional children’s stories from the culture of these communities. This special event was masterfully led by teacher Marina Calheiros. On this occasion, two children’s stories were presented: “Maria & Maria” and “História de Tenengo”, both written by authors Eliete Calheiros, Tania Calheiros and Lenira Calheiros. The authors are Marina’s sisters and residents of the Giral Grande quilombo, also located in Maragojipe. It is important to emphasize that the tales were recorded by Professor Vilson Caetano during his surveys of the cultural aspects of the quilombola communities in the region, as a way of perpetuating traditional knowledge and practices.

This meeting had a profound impact, demonstrating the importance of reading in children’s lives. During the interactive activity, the delight of the children, who actively participated, was clear. They were reflected in the stories that have been passed down orally from generation to generation, underlining Enseada’s commitment to strengthening quilombola culture and preserving the knowledge and traditions passed down over the years. Getúlio Vargas School welcomes students from the surrounding Quilombo communities of Giral Grande, Gauí, Guerém and Guaruçu.

Marina Calheiros said that for her “it was very satisfying to talk about a story that my parents and uncles had told me many times, not just to me, but also to my cousins and siblings. The tales of Tenengo and Maria & Maria took me back in time, as these stories marked my childhood. When evening came, especially on moonlit nights, my parents, even though they were tired, would put all their children on the piri mat and tell these beautiful African tales that brought me so much joy. Talking about these wonderful stories to the children and teenagers of the Getúlio Vargas Quilombola Municipal School was of great importance because I know that they will perpetuate the ancestry of the Quilombola people through orality.”

It is also worth mentioning that the event marked the twentieth anniversary of Law 10.639/03, which makes the teaching of African history and culture compulsory in schools. The children’s tales are part of Enseada’s collection of quilombola books, made up of 14 titles that explore quilombola culture, knowledge and traditions from different perspectives, catering for both adult and children’s audiences, and whose copies have been distributed throughout the school network in the Maragojipe and Cachoeira regions. This remarkable collection is the result of anthropological research conducted by Professor Vilson Caetano in quilombos in the region, demonstrating Enseada’s commitment to valuing and preserving the rich quilombola cultural heritage, and has been approved by both the Palmares Cultural Foundation and the Ministry of Education.