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Latest News
  • [ December 4, 2025 ] Portrait of a Centenary-Old Favela of Stilt Houses: Belém’s Vila da Barca Resists, Organizes and Fights for Sanitation and Adequate Housing #HousingWatch
  • [ November 30, 2025 ] The Story of Dona Pascoalina, Midwife and Healer of Morro do Borel by Community Contributors
  • [ November 15, 2025 ] ‘There’s No Such Thing as Normal After a Massacre’: One Week After Police Mega-Operation Kills 121 People, Residents From Complexos do Alemão and Penha Speak Out #UPPWatch
  • [ November 13, 2025 ] ‘Human Beings Forget That They Are Nature’: Favelas Teach the Path to the Future at the 2nd Favela Sustainability Festival Civil Society
  • [ November 12, 2025 ] Food Sovereignty and Culinary Heritage Connect with Fight for Climate Justice at the 2nd Sustainable Favela Festival Civil Society
HomeAfro-Brazilian culture

Afro-Brazilian culture

#GentrificationWatch

The Little-Known History of Little Africa in Rio de Janeiro’s Port Zone

By Mariah Barber, Rhona Mackay • June 3, 2016

Clique aqui para Português Little Africa, Pequena África in Portuguese, is an area in the Port Region of Rio de Janeiro that has historically been home to a strong Afro-Brazilian community. The area became known as Little Africa following […]

#EvictionsWatch

Heloisa Helena of Vila Autódromo Receives First Ever Dandara Award

By Stephanie Reist • May 17, 2016

Clique aqui para Português On Wednesday May 11, Heloisa Helena Costa Berto, an Afro-Brazilian Candomblé priestess, also known by her Candomblé name Luizinha of Nanã, whose home and spiritual center in Vila Autódromo were demolished to make way for […]

#Rio2016

MonstruáRio2016 Anti-Olympics Exhibit Accused of Racism [OPINION]

By Bruno Calisto • May 2, 2016

The anti-Olympics MonstruáRio 2016 exhibit by Rio de Janeiro comedian Rafucko, an “anti-souvenir shop” for the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games, has been accused of racism by Black activists for appropriating and exploiting the struggles of Black people […]

#EvictionsWatch

Letter from Vila Autódromo’s Heloisa Helena to the UN Human Rights Commission

By Heloisa Helena Costa Berto • Translation by Sheila Taylor • March 23, 2016

Clique aqui para Português This is a letter from Heloisa Helena Costa Berto/Luizinha de Nanã of Vila Autódromo to Mr. Ulrik Halsteen, member of the Business and Human Rights working group of the United Nations Office of the […]

#ParticipationWatch

‘A Park to Call Our Own’ Parque Madureira Becomes a Center for Organizing in the North Zone

By Priscila Rodrigues • Translation by Rachel Fox • March 2, 2016

Clique aqui para Português For the original article by Priscila Rodrigues in Portuguese published by Observatório de Favelas click here. “I have to go into the city.” It might sound strange to those who have always lived […]

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In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

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Special Thanks

Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

  • Home
    • Highlighted Stories
    • Understanding Rio
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  • Communities
    • Central
    • South Zone
    • North Zone
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    • Greater Rio
  • Policies
    • Public Security
    • Housing
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Health
    • Sanitation
  • Violations
    • Human Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
    • Community Solution
    • Resistance
    • Sustainability
    • Participation
    • Protest
    • Culture
    • Responsible Tourism
  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
      • Anti-Racist Series
      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
    • Interviews/Profiles
    • Research & Analysis
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    • Listicles
    • Opinion
    • Reference
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    • Translated Articles
  • About
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