Festivais de agosto: um mergulho nas dinâmicas urbanas e culturais de Ibotirama, Bahia

Abstract

With nearly 50 years of history, the Festival of Popular Music of Ibotirama (FEMPI) and the Festival of Poetry of Ibotirama (FEPI) have established themselves as essential events in the city's cultural life. By occupying public spaces, they transform social practices, generate tensions, and reconfigure meanings. In this study, which focuses on Ibotirama, Bahia, I investigate how these festivals impact local cultural and urban dynamics, using the Alto do Fundão neighborhood as an example of this complex interaction. Through cartographies, interviews, bibliographic review, and document analysis, I observe that the festivals are shaped by forms of belonging, preservation, and identity while simultaneously constructing and reconstructing meanings that adapt to the city’s cultural, urban, and social transformations. The case of Alto do Fundão highlights the contradictions, resistances, and resignifications that permeate this intricate network. Thus, the festivals are not only a cultural reflection but also a transformative force within the city.