Abstract. – The Candombe was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009. Historically, it has played a significant cultural role to reinforce identity in Uruguay as well as (to a lesser extent) in Argentina and Brazil. The loss of its religious character converts it into a cultural practice, “strategic” for certain groups. The author affirms that it is a cultural manifestation of identity border, built into the regional’s processes of local integration-resistance in the city of Concordia (Argentina). The study shows paradoxical changes in regional development processes – local, complex, and more “bet” on development of cultural inclusion. [culture, identity strategy, border, regional/local development, integration, inequality]