A importância dos benzedores na cultura popular do Rio Grande do Norte no contexto da folkcomunicação

Abstract

This study analyzes the relevance of folk healers (benzedeiros) in the popular culture of Rio Grande do Norte from the perspective of folk communication, highlighting their role as folk communicators in preserving values and traditions. The objective is to understand how healing practices adapt to the digital environment without losing their ancestral essence, ensuring continuity for future generations. The methodology includes an in-depth bibliographic review, primarily based on Luiz Beltrão’s concepts, as well as an analysis of a video featuring the healer Chiquinha Ferreira, available on YouTube, through an imagetic reading. The results show that folk healers act as folk communicators, using social media to disseminate knowledge and strengthen cultural ties. The study concludes that, despite technological transformations, these practices maintain their role as symbols of cultural resistance and community identity, bridging different generations.