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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE March 20, 2008
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| March 4, 2008 |
The Rhythm of AfroReggae echoes into the Future |
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fa·ve·la (n) in Brazil, an urban slum or ghetto; illegal squatter settlement
Photo courtesy of Mikako Hori |
People live in the favelas, or slums, of Rio de Janeiro because they have no other place to live. They build crude shacks illegally on land they don’t own, and endure unsanitary living conditions and the constant threat of violence. Children in the favelas grow up surrounded by guns and drugs, and many turn to lifestyles of drug trafficking to earn a living. About 16 percent of Rio de Janeiro residents live in favelas spread across the city, trapped in a world where guns speak louder than words, drug trafficking pays better than legal work, and police officers and drug soldiers wage war in neighborhood streets. Yet out of this chaos rose hope in the form of a group determined to speak out nonviolently. They called themselves AfroReggae, and in January of 1993 began publishing the AfroReggae News in the Vigário Geral favela to call attention to favela injustice, and to promote and embrace black culture. |
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Tour participant Shingo Kuroiwa (front right) was surprised by the difficulty of the Samba dance moves they learned while on tour, but AfroReggae members executed the moves smoothly
Photo courtesy of Mikako Hori |
Today, AfroReggae is an NGO that gives youth living in Rio de Janeiro favelas an opportunity to extract themselves from the cycle of crime and violence through educational programmes in art, music and dance. When Peace Boat called to Rio de Janeiro on February 24, participants from the 60th Global Voyage spent a day of exchange with AfroRegage in the Complexo de Alemao favela. A unique opportunity to get a glimpse of a world hidden from public view, participants were exposed to some of the hard realities of life in the favelas, but also enjoyed dance and drumming workshops put on by AfroReggae members. |
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Through live performances and youth programmes, AfroReggae brings to the favelas hope for a non-violent future, where kids don’t rely on guns to protect themselves |
In the evening, over 150 Peace Boat participants attended a special live concert held by AfroReggae for Peace Boat in the Cantagallo favela. AfroReggae’s circus team, AfroCirco, opened with a high intensity acrobatic performance, and jaws in the audience dropped as AfroCirco members vaulted off trampolines and somersaulted through the air. Following a performance by the AfroSamba band, AfroReggae’s main band had Peace Boat on their feet moving to lively percussion beats and inspired vocals. At the center of the stage was Anderson Sa, one of the founding members of AfroReggae and the protagonist of the film “Favela Rising,” which spotlights AfroReggae and their work to empower youth of the favelas. |
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During an onboard presentation, AfroReggae tour participants shared what they witnessed and learned in the Complexo de Alemao favela |
After returning to the ship, a group of 18 participants in the cultural exchange tour with AfroReggae prepared an onboard presentation to explain what they saw, learned and felt during the tour. They introduced the reality of favela life: while an adult working a legitimate job in the favela makes about 13 US dollars a week, drug soldiers can make 20 times that amount. The downward spiral of poverty and crime traps many favela residents, but youth who choose to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, drugs and crime are invited to join AfroReggae and focus their energy on creating nonviolent life alternatives for themselves. During the tour, the garbage littered, foul smelling streets shocked participants, and the presence of armed police officers made them afraid and nervous. In contrast, the AfroReggae community center was bright and welcoming, an oasis of hope dedicated to art and music amid the chaotic violence and poverty of the favela. |
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Miwako Sawaki (front left) was startled by the contrast she noticed between the dangerous streets of the favela and the welcoming atmosphere of the AfroReggae Cultural Center, where the eyes of children twinkle brightly
Photo courtesy of Mikako Hori |
AfroReggae has grown greatly in the seven years they have been working with Peace Boat, recently expanding their educational programmes to include five neighboring favelas. Together, AfroReggae and Peace Boat work to spread a message of nonviolence, and their relationship illustrates that there are bright spots of hope in the Rio de Janeiro favelas. Additionally, this unique relationship acts as a cultural window to the other side of the world for both AfroReggae members and Peace Boat participants. As a sign of Peace Boat’s support, participants on the 60th voyage brought art supplies and sporting goods like ping pong paddles to the AfroReggae community center. Peace Boat will continue to visit Afro Reggae when calling to Brazil, and through cultural exchange tours hopes to increase awareness of the economic disparity in Brazil and the reality of life in Rio de Janeiro favelas.
To learn more about AfroReggae, visit: www.afroreggae.org
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