Mário de Andrade

Born in São Paulo, Mário de Andrade was a man of many hats: poet, novelist, musicologist, and a fervent champion of Brazilian culture. He was a foundational figure in the Modern Art Week of 1922, essentially dragging Brazilian art and literature out of its European-mimicking slumber and into its own vibrant, tropical spotlight.

His magnum opus, "Macunaíma," is a fantastical romp through Brazilian folklore, earning him literary immortality and giving academics something to debate for decades. He didn't just write about Brazil; he unearthed it, cataloging its music, art, and traditions with an almost archaeological zeal.

As for his Jewish bona fides, they appear to be non-existent. Ancestry? None. Identity? Nada. He was, by all accounts, as Catholic as the next Brazilian of his era, though perhaps a bit too avant-garde for traditionalists. His contribution to national identity, however, is kvell-worthy for any culture.