thus, the representative core of this music/festivity is the legend behind it - the story of the 'bumba-meu-boi' varies greatly according the each region, but the bare bones of it refer that the wife of a slave is pregnant and wishes to eat an ox's tongue.

willing to fulfill her wish, the husband goes forth and kills the best animal in his master's ranch - saddened by the fact, the master then asks for the help of several healers and shamans, eventually managing to revive the dead ox.