Makunaima: a hero serving the social order

Abstract

This work presents Makunaima as the main character of the best-known and extensive oral legendary tradition of the inhabitants from the extreme north of South America, the triple border between Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana –etnographically designated as the circum-Roraima region, in order to examine the cultural role this character had before becoming the “heroe of our people” through the work of Mário de Andrade.