{"id":75822,"date":"2023-09-04T19:35:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T22:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=75822"},"modified":"2023-09-04T19:37:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T22:37:18","slug":"cinesarau-nzinga-de-angola-in-acari-favela-debates-popular-education-history-and-afro-brazilian-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=75822","title":{"rendered":"In Rio Favela of Acari, ‘CineSoir\u00e9e’ Nzinga of Angola Debates Popular Education, History and Afro-Brazilian Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"CineSarau<\/a>
CineSarau Nzinga de Angola participants together in front of the Mothers of Acari Cultural Center on June 24, 2023. Photo: Felipe Nunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

On Saturday, June 24, St. John’s Day<\/a> when many Rio de Janeiro locals gather to celebrate traditional June festivals, young residents in the favela of Acari<\/a> and surrounding North Zone<\/a> gathered late afternoon at the Mothers of Acari Cultural Center<\/a> for the second CineSarau “CinemaSoir\u00e9e” Nzinga de Angola. Organized by Acari Magic Slam<\/a>, Fala Akari Collective<\/a>, Faveleira Cultural Center, and the Black Poetry and Creole Art Group<\/a>, the event included debates on popular education<\/a> and Afro-Brazilian culture<\/a> and featured a film screening and poetry slam<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
\"Arthur,<\/a>
Arthur, winner of the CineSarau Nzinga poetry slam battle in the Acari favela in Rio’s North Zone on June 24, 2023. Photo: Felipe Nunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CineSarau Nzinga de Angola and Popular Education<\/h3>\n

The CineSarau Nzinga de Angola event was produced by Vanderley da Cunha, known as Deley de Acari<\/a>, widely recognized for his historic trajectory as a human rights activist defending social, cultural, and political rights in the favelas. The CineSarau team also includes members of Acari Magic Slam, guests of Slam Granito<\/a>. It is not the first such event to take place in the Acari favela, but this new iteration seeks to reaffirm the fight for grassroots education beyond the classroom and traditional curriculum of college entrance exam preparatory courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cCineSarau Nzinga [de Angola] was created to celebrate the 360th anniversary of Queen Nzinga Mbandi<\/a> of Angola’s death in 1663. It is customary in Black African societies to celebrate death as a passage from earthly to ancestral life, and as such it is cause for joy. In turn, it is also an opportunity to implement Law 10.639\/2003<\/a>, which turns 20 this year<\/a>, but has never been effectively carried out in public schools<\/a>, pre-schools, or in universities. The format of CineSarau Nzinga de Angola consists of documentary film screenings, photography, written and spoken Black poetry [performance], and drawings, visual, and graphic arts. [The event] takes place every month.\u201d \u2014 Deley de Acari<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Vanderley<\/a>
Vanderley da Cunha, Deley do Acari, recites a poem at CineSarau Nzinga in the Acari favela in Rio’s North Zone on June 24, 2023. Photo: Felipe Nunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The June 24 event was split into three parts. First, poet Deley de Acari explained the importance of the activity. He spoke of his idea to join up with the college entrance exam preparatory course<\/a> (NIDES\/UFRJ) in Acari, which had around 90 registered students at the start of 2023 and operates through the work of teachers and students from the area.<\/p>\n

For Deley, it is important for the exam prep course content to be brought into dialogue with Black literature<\/a>. He emphasizes the urgency of putting Law n\u00ba 10.639\/2003<\/a> into practice through teaching African history and Afro-Brazilian culture<\/a> in all Brazilian schools.<\/p>\n

Second, a short film<\/a> was screened of performance poet Walietcha Neto<\/a> who participates in Angolan poetry slams, followed by a discussion on the video.<\/p>\n