DEVOUT AND DIVINE: REFLECTIONS ON THE SACRALIZATION PROCESS OF MPB FEMALE SINGERS IN THE RITUAL CONTEXT OF THE CÍRIO DE NAZARÉ IN BELÉM, PARÁ, AMAZONIA

Abstract

Drawing from ethnographic experience at the Círio de Nazaré, this ar­ticle discusses what I call MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) performances of holiness by female singers, observed mainly in musical tributes made by these artists during the Our Lady of Nazaré procession along the streets of Belém. As part of a larger inquiry, focused on the homosexual male’s imaginary and sociability built around the MPB female singers, this article bridges theoretical and ethnographic elements to discuss me­anings behind the word “divine”, often used by fans (especially homose­xuals) to call their favorite female singers. Keywords: Círio de Nazaré, ritual, Brazilian popular music, female sin­gers, religiosity