Pequena África (Little Africa)

My Rio

Pequena África (Little Africa) is the nickname given by samba composer Heitor dos Prazeres (1898-1966) to the area covered by the neighborhoods of Saúde, Gamboa and Santo Cristo, in the harbor area of Rio de Janeiro occupied by a majority black population, the region was recently highlighted by magazine Time Out of London, as one of the “coolest” cities in the world. with charming bars and fascinating places as Cais do Valongo,(Valongo Pier), The New Black Cemetery, and Pedra do Sal( Salt Stone), whose history is closely linked to the transatlantic traffic of enslaved people, the African diaspora and the birth of Samba.Also in the region, we find the favela of Providencia, the oldest in Rio de Janeiro.

More than monuments, Pequena Africa is a vibrant territory, where the visitor may experience authentic Afro-Brazilian music, history, culture, gastronomy in Rio de Janeiro.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Cais do Valongo

(Archaeological site – UNESCO World Heritage)

Valongo Pier was the main disembarkation and trade point of Africans enslaved in the Americas. It operated between 1811 and 1831, the year when it was banned from transatlantic traffic. During this period, about one million people disembarked at the Valongo Pier to be sold and transported to several points of the country.The site was revealed in 2011, during the archaeological excavations for the implementation of the project “ Porto Maravilha ”. In 2017, Unesco included Valongo in the world cultural heritage list, for it recognized in it” the most important physical evidence associated with the historical arrival of enslaved Africans in the American continent” According to Unesco, “ it is a place of consciousness, which illustrates strong and tangible associations to one of the most terrible crimes of humanity, the slavery of hundreds of thousands of people, creating the largest forced migration in history.”

Address: Avenida Barão de Tefé – Praça Jornal do Comércio

Pedra do Sal e Morro da Conceição

(Historic Monument)

Pedra do Sal( Salt Stone) is a religious and historic monument of Brazilian Culture.Since the XVIII century, the region, known as salt landing, was densely inhabited by the black population.In the XIX and XX centuries delicacy cooks, the “ bahian aunts”, dockers,capoeiras and workers who implemented other necessary activities to the functioning of the city.The first Camdomblé terreiros of the city were founded in the immediate vicinity of Pedra do Sal, like the carioca samba and the first ranches and carnival groups. The area is claimed as an urban quilombo, a place of resistance and reference to Brazilian culture, celebrated in public festivities and events. Especially famous are the weekly rodas de samba, that occur on Monday and Friday nights.

Address: Rua Argemiro Bulcão

Largo de São Francisco da Prainha

(Public Square)

Popularly known as Largo da Prainha, it is located on the Street Sacadura Cabral, at the foot of Morro da Conceição. Before the construction of the Port of Rio de Janeiro, there was a small beach there, which extended to where it is today Mauá Square. Due to the successive landfills made in the region, the beach disappeared. The square was named by him because it was located close to the Church of São Francisco of Prainha, erected in 1696, in Jesuit baroque style. In the middle of Largo da Prainha we find the statue of Mercedes Baptista, the first black ballerina of the permanent corps de ballet of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro. Mercedes founded the Folkloric Ballet that bears her name, a world wide diffusor of performances in terreiros and the paradigm of the anti racist struggle in the field of culture. The largo and its surroundings have several bars and restaurants and have an intense day and night life.

Address: Rua Sacadura Cabral

IPN | Cemitério dos Pretos Novos

(Archaeological site and memorial museum)

The Pretos Novos Cemetery was the burial site of Africans, recently disembarked in Valongo who could not resist the conditions of crossing and died before being sold. Located on the current Street Pedro Ernesto, the archaeological site was discovered in 1996, during the remodeling of the residence of the Guimaraes family. The place contains the preserved remains of a young trafficked African and other enslaved African people, besides archaeological artifacts of the 19th century. The Institute of Research and Memory of the New Black is responsible for the conservation of this heritage, and promotes on the site, also art exhibitions, courses, cultural workshops and guided tours through Pequena Africa.

Address: Rua Pedro Ernesto, 32 ( www.pretosnovos.com.br)

MUHCAB | Museu da História e da Cultura Afro-brasileira

(Public museum)

Recently renovated and located in the old historic building of Colégio José Bonifácio, the Museum of History and Afro-Brazilian Culture, has a collection of around 2,5 items, among paintings, sculptures and photographs, besides works of contemporary plastic artists, that dialogue with the territory of Little Africa.

Address: Rua Pedro Ernesto, 80 ( www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/muhcab)

Casa da Tia Ciata

Aunt Ciata´s House is a cultural center dedicated to the preservation of Sambas matriarch´memory Hilária Batista de Almeida, aunt Ciata. The house presents an exhibition with its trajectory and organizes the tourist circuit “ Aunt Ciata´s pathways – Matriarch of Samba. a guided tour through the main points of Pequena Africa linked to the birth of Samba in Rio de Janeiro, in an ancestral immersion through a path surrounded by traditions, achievements, religiosity, delicacies and samba. The center also promotes jongo workshops, capoeira with maculelê, drums, Afro dance, besides offering a delicious bans in cachaça.

Address: Rua Camerino, 5 (www.tiaciata.org.br)

Contact for scheduling: casa@tiaciata.org.br

CULTURE, LEISURE AND GASTRONOMY IN LITTLE AFRICA

Little Africa lives and survives from the immaterial cultural heritage generated by the Afro-Brazilian community and the afro-Brazilians who inhabit their territory. It is this community that carries forward the tradition of samba, of religions of African matrix, of gastronomy, craftsmanship and other cultural and popular manifestations linked to the African diaspora. Live this experience and contribute to the community sustainable tourism.

Spaces of Art and Culture:

Cultural Quilombo Casa do Nando. Musical events, teather and afro gastronomy. Rua Camerino 176,(@acasadonando)
Espaço Aberto de Cultura. Courses and cultural events. Rua Conselheiro Zacarias, 91 (@espacoabertodecultura)
A.R.E.S. Vizinha Faladeira. Apresentações de samba, dance lessons and percussion.Rua Nabuco de Freitas, 19 (@oficialvizinhafaladeiraares)
Afoxé Filhos de Ghandi ( www.primeiroafoxedorio.com.br ) musical events. Dance workshops and percussion. Rua Camerino, 7/9 (@filhosdegandhi_rio_oficial).
Casarão Cultural João de Alabá. Courses, theatrical performances and storytelling. Rua Camerino S/N – Morro do Valongo (@casaraoalaba).
Espaço Malungo. Musical performances, exhibitions and cultural events. Rua Sacadura Cabral, 359. Praça da Harmonia (@espacomalungo).
Instituto Inclusartiz. Exhibitions, ateliers and artistic residences Rua Sacadura Cabral, 333, Praça da Harmonia (@institutoinclusartiz).
Centro de Cultura Única. Musical events, courses, café, art and craftsmanship. Rua Sacadura Cabral, 109

Carnival Blocks & Musical Associations

Escravos da Mauá Block (@escravosdamaua).
League of Blocks and Bands of the Port Area (@ligaportuaria)
Instituto Black Bom Creative Occupation of urban space with Black Music and black cultural fair (@baileblackbom)
Cordão do Prata Preta (@cordaodopratapreta)

Other Social and Community Organizations of Pequena África

Armazém Cultural da Artes (@armazemculturaldasartes)
Casa Amarela (@casaamarelaprovidencia)
Etnias do Porto (@etniasdoporto)
Instituto Ile Odara (@revistaziriguidum)
Lanchonete <> Lanchonete (@lanchonete.lanchonete)
Providência Agroecológica (@providencia_agroecologica)
Galeria Providência (@galeriaprovidencia)
Centro Cultural Pequena África. Courses. (@maecelinadexango).

Guided Cultural Visits Around The Territory.

Conectando Territórios (@conectandoterritorios)
Etnias Turismo e Cultura (@etniasturismoecultura)
Instituto Rio Memória Ação (@riomemoriaacao)
Localiza021 Passeios e Turismo (@localiza021)
Luana Ferreira (@luacariocaafroguide)
Rio Encantos (@rioencantos)
Rolé dos Favelados (@cosmefelippsen)

Shopping

Casa da Árvore (livraria). Rua Argemiro Bulcão, 51 (na Casa Omolokum) (@livrariacasadaarvore)
Tramas do Porto (roupas e acessórios). Rua Sacadura Cabral, 81 – Loja B (@tramasdoportooficial)

Theaters

Cena Portuária. Apresentações teatrais em áreas públicas na Pequena África. (@cenaportuaria)
Casa de Mystérios. Sede da Companhia Brasileira de Mystérios e Novidades. Endereço: Rua Pedro Ernesto, casa 21 (@ciademysterios)