Candombe’s Costume as a Key Element to Discover Uruguayan History

Performances that become rituals, which are preserved through decades, even centuries, are formed by history. Every aspect that composes them speaks about the community represented, the intended audience and the surroundings. Costume is the most visible element a performer has to spread a message in the most democratic way possible. The capital city of a small South American country — Montevideo, Uruguay — presents Candombe, an interesting carnival celebration first performed by enslaved Afro-Uruguayans which has become a popular event that now represents a significant part of the country’s culture. This article aims to understand the origins of the costume for this particular ritual and why the design is preserved today in contemporary celebrations. The topics discussed are colonialism, memory, tradition and multiculturalism. In addition, the concept of agency in regard to the costume is addressed with concrete examples.