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In the rural regions of Brazil, Roman Catholicism was for hundreds of years the only religion considered legitimate and worshiped by the sector that held religious and political power. With its non-ecclesiastical manifestation and based on folk adaptions of the Church and transformations of the local, folia de reis tradition, also referred to as folk Catholicism, has enabled many distinctive groups of people to find ways of celebrating their religiosity through communal experiences. This cultural and musical practice empowered and transformed the local culture and religion to become part of a broader experience of reciprocity. As a social and cultural manifestation of many different ethnicities at the local scenario, African descendants have added their cultural element to the mix, assimilating and incorporating rhythms, music, and song text as a driving force, transforming it into plurality, to the point of merging and becoming a tradition celebrated by everyone. Through a series of visits, interviews, recordings, and music transcriptions with the local folia de reis, Capitão José