Humor recognized as intangible heritage in Brazil state of Ceará

Chico Anysio, Renato Aragão, and Tom Cavalcante have one thing in common: they are known for being renowned Brazilian comedians. It is no coincidence that all three were born in Ceará, the Northeastern state where, 15 days ago, humor was officially recognized as intangible cultural heritage.

Other Ceará-born artists could be added to the three above, among them Falcão, Tiririca, Rossicléa, Adamastor Pitaco, and, more recently, Edmilson Filho, who became known countrywide in the last few years for starring as the protagonist in the films Cine Holliúdy (2012) and O Shaolin do Sertão (2016).

The old and new days of Brazilian humor are portrayed in their variegated forms at the Museum of Humor, in Fortaleza, the state capital. “This museum is teeming with life—it's always renewing itself. The history of humor never ends,” said historian and comedian Jader Soares, who plays the character Zebrinha. The museum also houses a number of props from Cine Holliúdy 2, only to be displayed after the sequel is released.

The origins of humor

According to Soares's Paula Nei: o primeiro humorista brazileiro (“Paula Nei: The First Brazilian Comedian,” in an unofficial English translation, a book released in 2015), Nei, born in the town of Aracati, Ceará, was the nation's first comic, especially when one considers his work in Rio de Janeiro, where he moved when he was 17 years old.

One of the anecdotal stories related in the book reveals that Nei, then a medical student, was being tested on his knowledge about anatomy. Knowing beforehand that the answer was not likely to bear any real connection with the topic addressed, the professor asked him: “Will you please tell me at least how many bones are there in a human skull?” to which Nei is reported to have answered: “I can't remember, professor, but I'm sure I have them all here in my head.”

At the entrance to the museum, a reconstructed Ferreira Square, with its benches and the traditional Hour Column (Coluna da Hora) as well as the Cashew Tree of Lies (Cajueiro da Mentira, which no longer exists) show visitors how much the place was a hustling hub of culture and humor early in the 20th century.

Also to be seen is the drawing of an orange sun recounting the day when the people booed the big star, disappointed at the lack of rain. The incident took place in 1942 and reverberated 70 years later, in 2012, after a competition was held by the museum. A trophy was offered to the author of the best jeer.

Visitors can also see a replica of Ioiô, the goat—an animal that used to saunter around the square and was dear to all locals. Ioiô was so popular that local writers and bohemians decided to bring the goat into the race for city councilman.

The goat's canvasser was Quintino Cunha, another forerunner of Ceará humor, which took care of the animal in his home downtown. The animal itself was stuffed after its death and can be seen at the Museum of Ceará.

Chico Anysio

Two rooms at the museum are dedicated to the memory of Chico Anysio and his 209 characters—above all his Teacher Raimundo. Among the objects for show are the white coat, the wig, and the mustache worn by the artist during the filming of the hit TV series from the 90s Escolinha do Professor Raimundo (Teacher Raimundo's School, in a literal translation). Another room houses the funeral urn with Anysio's ashes.

“Chico Anysio used to say that, due to their suffering, humor was the way people from Ceará could vent their feelings. I'm not so sure. I think Brazilians are usually such joyous people. Brazilians from the Northeast are hilarious, and the ones from Ceará have the power to bring all that joy to the stage. Everyone can tell jokes at the bar, but people from Ceará can do it like no other. We exert a lot of influence on the other states,” Soares said.

The Museum of Humor is open from Monday to Saturday, between 1 pm and 8 pm, and boasts a theater named after Chico Anysio. Every Friday night the stage is taken by a number of comedians from all over the state.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira