Oh, my Zambi, what a fuss!*
*Oh, Zambi, what a mess!
The existence of higher labor demand and commercial activity in the city's central area caused a large portion of African people and their descendants to concentrate in these areas. Many sought to sleep nearby, even if they lived far away, in houses that could shelter them in exchange for services; others found ways to stay in collective dwellings, sharing the space among many, and often food and the care of daily life as well. In the small dwellings, sometimes just a single room, where the angu sellers spent the night with their belongings, others would gather as well.
Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph of a square with old buildings. On the left side, we see a building with balconies and open windows, where someone is hanging out clothes to dry. In the center, there is a building with a sloped roof and metal structure. On the right, a large building with arches and framed windows, possibly a market or store. In the background, other buildings and a tower are visible. The square is empty, with a few people walking about.“Largo da Prainha”. Foto de Augusto Malta, c.1900. Fonte “A Praça Mauá na memória do Rio de Janeiro”, de Paulo Bastos Cezar e Ana Rosa Viveiros de Castro. Retirado de LEHMT
The zungus gradually took shape — places of gathering and sharing of stories and affection, often also places of refuge for runaways, and for that reason a constant presence in police records in the Pequena África region (as at Largo da Prainha nº13). Whoever managed to get a house of their own would soon bring family — whether by blood or by kinship ties. In these houses, at nightfall, after tiring workdays, conversation would turn to sharing the day and its stories, and, eventually, to drumming, singing, prayer, and memories brought from Africa.
Image description: The image is a photograph of an old black-and-white document. In the center, there is text written in Portuguese, with emphasis on the word "zungú," which is underlined in green. The text mentions penalties for owners or heads of houses known as "casas de zungú e batuques" (zungú and batuque houses), specifying prison terms and fine amounts.Proibidos por lei, os “zungus” continuaram existindo por todo o séc. XIX. Jornal O Sete D’Abril, 1839, p. 1 – Hemeroteca Digital
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