Larry Crook Collection on Brazilian Folklore

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0588

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains topics related to Brazilian folklore, music, carnivals, and the Yoruba religion. The majority of the materials consist of newsletters and newspapers.

The carnivals documented in the collection are the Recife and Olinda Carnival, where African traditions are celebrated, and the Bahian Carnival, also known as the Carnival of Salvador, which is one of the most important festivities in Brazil. It is held six days before Ash Wednesday and is the most influenced by the Yoruba tradition, and it symbolizes the revival of the Yoruba culture.

The collection also includes materials related to "Grupo Cultural Olodum", Olodum cultural group is based in the Afro Brazilian community of Salvador in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It was founded in 1979 by percussionist, Neguinho do Samba. They focus on combating racism, encouraging self-esteem and pride among Afro Brazilians, and fighting for civil rights for all marginalized groups.

In addition, there are two publications with illustrations related to Yoruba deities from the “Instituto de Estudos da Religião (ISER)” in collaboration with “Apoio Religioso Contra Aids (ARCA)” to raise awareness and prevent the Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Brazil.

Dates

Creation: 1985-2001

Creator

Crook, Larry. (Person)

Language of Materials

Includes materials written in English and Portuguese.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

Larry Norman Crook was born in 1953 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He received his doctorate from the University of Texas. His research focused on Brazilian music, the African diaspora, music and identity, and popular music. At the University of Florida School of Music, he specialized in ethnomusicology and music history and taught several courses on Latin American, Caribbean and African music, as well as ethnomusicology seminars. He served as the area chair of the Musicology and Ethnomusicology Program in the School of Music and as an affiliate member of the Anthropology and Latin American and African Studies Centers.

He also served as director of the University of Florida's World Music Ensembles (Jacaré Brasil and Agbedidi Africa) and has performed regularly on stage. Dr. Crook is the author of Brazilian Music: Northeastern Traditions and the Heartbeat of a Modern Nation (2005; 2nd edition, 2009) and co-editor of Black Brazil: Culture, Identity, and Social Mobilization (1999).