Master Damasceno is recognized with the Order of Cultural Merit in Rio de Janeiro 6u6855
The Pará artist received the highest public honor granted by the Ministry of Culture 16401z
As recognition for his dedicated journey in music and the appreciation of popular traditions, the master of Marajoara culture, Master Damasceno, was honored this Tuesday (20) with the Order of Cultural Merit (OMC) — the highest public decoration granted by the Ministry of Culture. The honor, established by Law No. 8,313 of 1991, recognizes personalities and institutions that contribute significantly to Brazilian culture.
The official ceremony took place at 5 PM, at the Gustavo Capanema Palace, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, with the presence of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes.
In 2025, the Ministry of Culture celebrates its 40th anniversary, honoring names that stand out in preserving the cultural diversity of the country. Among the awardees is Master Damasceno, who has dedicated more than five decades to valuing the traditional manifestations of the Marajó archipelago in the state of Pará.
Damasceno lost his sight at the age of 19 in a work accident. Since then, he has reinvented his life through art, becoming a reference in carimbó, toadas, oral poetry, and the creation of the Búfalo-Bumbá de Salvaterra — a June festival manifestation that blends popular theater, quilombola culture, and elements of the Amazonian nature. With over 400 original compositions and six recorded albums, he is now a symbol of resistance and the cultural strength of Northern Brazil. Master Damasceno will also be one of the honorees at the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair, which takes place in August 2025.
"It is with great joy that I receive the Order of Cultural Merit. I bring with me everything I learned from my parents and grandparents, quilombola ancestors. It has been over 50 years dedicated to Marajoara cultural traditions, and today I reap the fruits of a lifetime of work. I hope to do even more," declared the musician.
The recognition was celebrated by the State Secretariat of Culture of Pará (Secult), represented by the acting secretary, Bruno Chagas. "Master Damasceno is one of the greatest living expressions of Amazonian culture. Celebrating him is celebrating Marajoara and Pará culture. The Order of Cultural Merit is more than fair, as it represents national recognition for those who dedicate their lives to keeping alive the memory, art, and knowledge of the people of Marajó," he stated.
Action in Marajó
The journey of Master Damasceno is marked by numerous initiatives that helped consolidate and renew the popular traditions of the Marajoara region. In 2012, the Búfalo-Bumbá was officially created, a show that combines elements of the auto do boi with Marajoara and quilombola identity. Damasceno is responsible for the scripts, costumes, and direction of the performances.
Another relevant project is the Conjunto de Carimbó Nativos Marajoara, founded in 2013. The group has released four albums with the artist's trademark: the carimbó pau e corda of Marajó.
Among the most recent initiatives is the Cortejo Carimbúfalo, which mixes carimbó with Búfalo-Bumbá and brings this cultural expression to the streets of Salvaterra. In 2023, Damasceno conceived the Festival de Boi-Bumbá de Salvaterra, which brings together groups of "boi placers" from the quilombola communities of the municipality, further expanding the reach of his art.
About the OMC
Created in 1991, the Order of Cultural Merit is one of the most relevant decorations in the cultural sector in Brazil. In 2024, it was awarded as part of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Ministry of Culture, in recognition of the work of artists, masters of culture, and institutions that promote Brazilian cultural diversity.
New projects
The journey of Master Damasceno will be recorded in a feature-length documentary directed by Guto Nunes, currently in the final stages of production. The film is scheduled for release in July 2025, with from the Paulo Gustavo Law (Secult/PA).
Text: Painah Silva (Ascom Secult)
*With information from the communication advisory of Master Damasceno
