Do naufrágio da memória : estudo de caso sobre as tototós nas comunidades barracoqueirense e aracajuana (SE), 2011-2021

Abstract

This study analyzes the risk of weakening of the Tototós — traditional boats of the riverside communities of Barra dos Coqueiros and Aracaju — recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State of Sergipe by Law No. 7,320, of December 20, 2011. More than means of transport, the Tototós constitute a cultural practice linked to traditional knowledge, ways of life, and collective experiences that structure local memory and identity. However, in recent decades, a gradual reduction in their presence in the daily lives of communities has been observed, related to urban transformations, the modernization of means of transport, and the insufficiency of public policies aimed at the continuity of the practice. The research is limited to the time frame between 2011 and 2021, seeking to analyze the tensions between institutional recognition and the social experience of the Tototós. Methodologically, it is based on bibliographic review, document analysis, and examination of historical and institutional records. The results show that, despite formal recognition, weaknesses persist in the processes of cultural transmission, which places the practice in a vulnerable situation. It is concluded that the protection of intangible heritage depends on strengthening the individuals who possess the knowledge and reintegrating the expression into contemporary spaces of sociability.