NewAfricasarrive

Samba from over there, for I samba from here
The day of peace has already dawned
The free song shall resound
In my drums,
The dream lives on

Image description: The image is a photograph of a commercial stand. On the left side, we see a woman walking with her back to the camera, her hair tied up in a bun, wearing a blue blouse and white shorts. In the center, there is a table covered with a black cloth, displaying various pieces of jewelry and accessories. On the right, there is a collection of colorful bags hanging on a wooden rack. In the background, a red banner reading "RAMA COLLECTION | REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DO CONGO" is mounted on a stone wall. Behind the stand, there is a red brick facade and a window with bars.

In the 1990s, a new Atlantic migratory wave originating in Africa grew stronger. Fleeing the conflicts in Angola, many crossed the Atlantic in a new diaspora toward Brazil, and Rio de Janeiro was their main destination for at least two decades. It was a population predominantly made up of young men, but family networks gradually formed, creating the conditions to bring over women and children. The port region received an initial flow of this migration, and people settled there in the existing collective housing buildings. As more people arrived, other areas were occupied, one of the most important being the Favela da Maré.

Image description: This is a photograph of an individual standing in front of a wooden structure with open doors. On the left, there is a metal barrel and stacks of wooden crates. In the center, the individual is wearing a brown hoodie, black shorts, and brown sneakers. In front of them, two green metal posts are positioned. In the background, there is a closed metal door and a sign that reads "PENTECOSTAL". On the right, there is a blue sign with the inscription "FORTLEV" and a red motorcycle parked near a metal fence. The roof of the structure is covered with green leaves. At the top of the image, an old building with exposed electrical wiring can be seen.

The Angolan community in Maré, due to its identity and demographic presence, gained local visibility and a certain notoriety, which not infrequently generated situations of prejudice and stigmatization. A significant portion of these immigrants were refugees who, in many cases, had education reaching university level. Since many found themselves without documents and in a precarious economic situation, they went to work in construction and other unskilled services.

Image description: The image is a photograph of an event with people interacting in front of a booth. On the left side, three women stand with their backs to the camera, looking at the man on the right. He wears a colorful turban and a blue T-shirt with the text "RIO REFUGIA." The booth has a red sign reading "MAMAN LANDOU" and "REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DO CONGO." In the background, there is green foliage.

Following this Angolan migratory wave to Rio, Congolese immigrants began to arrive. Mostly in refugee status, they traveled along Atlantic routes toward this city in search of opportunities and survival. Most of them settled in favelas located on the outskirts of Rio or in municipalities of the Baixada Fluminense. This group of immigrants includes many women, some with traumatic experiences in their life stories. They seek to redefine their lives by developing activities that draw on their knowledge and talents, such as hair braiding.

These groups form new small carioca, Atlantic, and contemporary Africas.

Interview with Mireille Muluila, a Congolese refugee, for the UN Brazil. 2016