Kalunga
Encyclopedia
The Kalungas are descendants of run-away slaves who lived in remote settlements in northeastern Goiás
state, Brazil
. Most of the 4,000 Kalungas, who are of mixed race, black and native Indian, live in very poor conditions in near the town of Cavalcante
, Goiás.
All of the area occupied by the Kalungas was officially recognized by the state government in 1991 as a Historical Site and the Kalunga are preserved as Patrimônio Cultural Kalunga. The Kalungas settled in the mountains on both sides of the Paraná River
, on slopes and in valleys, called Vãos. Today they occupy the territory of Cavalcante, Monte Alegre
e Teresina de Goiás
. The four main settlements are in the region of Contenda, the Vão do Calunga, the Vão de Almas, the Vão do Moleque and the Ribeirão dos Bois.
In the land of the Kalunga people, calunga is the name of a plant - Simaba ferruginea – and the place where it grows, near a stream of the same name. It makes the land where it grows sacred, a land that never dries, good for planting food for all of life.
They chose the Chapada
region because of its inaccessibility, since their former "owners" would not risk searching for them in that place. It is a sea of mountains and hills full of buriti palms extending to the horizon. They are steep slopes, full of stones. The narrow trails wind and climb, almost lost in the dense vegetation and stone walls fall abruptly into the low valleys.
These descendants of slaves lived isolated from the towns of Goiás. They learned to live with what the cerrado
gave them, in food as well in building materials and tools. Even living isolated from each other they considered themselves relatives. Periodically, they would make their way out of the wasteland to venture down to the towns to buy kitchen utensils or certain foods. Their means of transport was primitive boats or troops of donkeys.
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
state, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Most of the 4,000 Kalungas, who are of mixed race, black and native Indian, live in very poor conditions in near the town of Cavalcante
Cavalcante
Cavalcante is a small town and municipality in northern Goiás state, Brazil. It is one of the poorest municipalities in the state. It is home to communities of descendants of runaway slaves called Kalungas.-Location:...
, Goiás.
All of the area occupied by the Kalungas was officially recognized by the state government in 1991 as a Historical Site and the Kalunga are preserved as Patrimônio Cultural Kalunga. The Kalungas settled in the mountains on both sides of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, on slopes and in valleys, called Vãos. Today they occupy the territory of Cavalcante, Monte Alegre
Monte Alegre de Goiás
Monte Alegre de Goiás is a small town and municipality in northeastern Goiás state, Brazil.-Location:Monte Alegre is located in the statistical micro-region of Chapada dos Veadeiros and is 31 kilometers south of the border with Tocantins. G0-118 connects it with Teresina de Goiás and Campos Belos...
e Teresina de Goiás
Teresina de Goiás
Teresina de Goiás is a small town and municipality in northern Goiás state, Brazil.-Location:It is part of the region of the statistical micro-region of Chapada dos Veadeiros and is located north of the Federal District and Brasília. It is 67 km north of Alto Paraíso de Goiás. The nearest...
. The four main settlements are in the region of Contenda, the Vão do Calunga, the Vão de Almas, the Vão do Moleque and the Ribeirão dos Bois.
History
There is confusion about the meaning of the word Kalunga or Calunga, which, despite the same sound, have totally different meanings: Kalunga – connected to religious beliefs, world of the ancestors, cult of the forefathers, from them came the force; Calunga - small or insignificant thing; a way to call Negros, considered inferior; a famous or important person.In the land of the Kalunga people, calunga is the name of a plant - Simaba ferruginea – and the place where it grows, near a stream of the same name. It makes the land where it grows sacred, a land that never dries, good for planting food for all of life.
They chose the Chapada
Chapada
A chapada is a plateau found in the Brazilian Highlands. The chapadas, which are usually described as mountain ranges, are capped by horizontal strata of sandstone and show the original surface, which has been worn away by the rivers, leaving here and there broad flat-topped ridges between river...
region because of its inaccessibility, since their former "owners" would not risk searching for them in that place. It is a sea of mountains and hills full of buriti palms extending to the horizon. They are steep slopes, full of stones. The narrow trails wind and climb, almost lost in the dense vegetation and stone walls fall abruptly into the low valleys.
These descendants of slaves lived isolated from the towns of Goiás. They learned to live with what the cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
gave them, in food as well in building materials and tools. Even living isolated from each other they considered themselves relatives. Periodically, they would make their way out of the wasteland to venture down to the towns to buy kitchen utensils or certain foods. Their means of transport was primitive boats or troops of donkeys.