Morro do Tuiuti is a favela located in the neighborhood of São Cristóvão, in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro.
Morro do Tuiuti seen from the street. Image by @uber.peloscantosdorio
Image description: This is a photograph of an urban street with a steep incline. On the left, we see a series of electricity poles with many hanging cables. There are green trees along the edges of the street. In the center, two motorcyclists are riding along the road. Behind the motorcyclists, there are several colorful houses built on the hillsides, forming a favela. On the right, there are more trees and old buildings with varied façades. The sky is clear and blue.- Toponym
There are two possibilities for the origin of the toponym "Tuiuti": (1) it is a word of Tupi origin, meaning, in that language, "river of the mudflat," through the joining of tuîuka (mudflat) and ty (river). It would be a reference to the Battle of Tuiuti, in the Paraguayan War; (2) it is a reference to the bird known as "tuiuti."
- History
Its history is as old as that of the São Cristóvão neighborhood, dating back to the days of the Empire. When the Portuguese royal family landed in Rio in 1808 fleeing Napoleon's army, the city was transformed, overnight, from a sleepy colonial backwater into an imperial metropolis. The new seat of power became the Royal Palace of São Cristóvão, at the Quinta da Boa Vista, a stone's throw from Morro do Tuiuti.
Morro do Tuiuti has a long tradition of carnival activities, having given rise to the samba school Unidos do Tuiuti, Paraíso das Baianas, and to the carnival street group "Bloco dos Brotinhos." The three associations gave rise to the current samba school Paraíso do Tuiuti.
On November 3, 2011, the community began to be served by the 18th Pacifying Police Unit.
Image taken from twitter.com
Image description: This is a photograph of an urban area at dusk. On the left, we see a row of low buildings with colorful facades, including red and blue. In the center, there is a wide street with a few people walking and parked vehicles. On the right, the view rises toward a hill densely covered with colorful houses, lit by streetlights. The sky is clear, with a few scattered clouds.Facts about Tuiuti
In the 2018 carnival parade, Paraíso da Tuiuti chose to question "My God, my God, has slavery been abolished?"
The school retold the story of slavery in Brazil, criticizing the fact that its remnants persist, as well as the difficulties faced by the Brazilian worker.
It was possible to see the emotion of those who were at the sambódromo.
The Comissão de Frente, called "O grito de liberdade" ("The cry of freedom"), staged reenactments of enslaved people being whipped. The abre alas "Quilombo Tuiuti" featured enormous golden rhinoceroses. Behind it came a float depicting a slave ship.
Image taken from g1.globo.com
Image description: This is a photograph of a samba school performance. In the foreground, we see a group of dancers dressed in traditional costumes, holding ropes that form a straight line. They are arranged in an organized manner, with their arms raised and hands joined. On the left, there is an individual wearing more formal clothing, possibly a mestre-sala or porta-bandeira. In the background, other samba school members are present, some wearing colorful costumes. The lighting is intense, highlighting the dancers in the center.Image taken from g1.globo.com
Image description: The image is a photograph of an individual wearing an elaborate costume with gold details. The figure is facing the camera, with the face covered by an accessory that appears to be a mask or hood. The background is dark, possibly a wall or curtain.Image taken from g1.globo.com
Image description: The image is a photograph of a samba school parade. From back to front, we see an excited crowd, with people wearing yellow and black clothing. On the left, there is a man in a red shirt and blue pants, and in front of him is an athlete in a green and white uniform, leaning forward. In the center, two men stand out. The man on the left, with short hair and a beard, is wearing a black outfit with gold details. He is embracing the second man, who has long hair and is dressed in a black and gold outfit, also with gold details. Both appear to be in a moment of celebration or festivity.It was in the last floats, however, that controversy set in, bringing current social criticism. The presence of the “manifantoches” - as the protesters in favor of the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff came to be known - provoked those who took to the streets in 2015, conveying the idea that it was nothing more than manipulation.
Image taken from g1.globo.com
Image description: This is a photograph of a carnival party. In the central part of the image, we see a person dressed in a vibrant yellow costume, adorned with green and sparkly details. The person is smiling and holding a shiny metallic object to their right. In the background, other party attendees are also dressed in colorful costumes, some appearing to be members of the "Paraíso do Tuiuti" samba school.Image taken from g1.globo.com
Image description: The image is a photograph of a samba school parade. In the center, there is a large blue sign with the coat of arms of the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the text "Carteira de Trabalho e Previdência Social" (Work and Social Security Card). To the left and right of the sign are people dressed in samba costumes, holding musical instruments. The spatial arrangement is asymmetrical, with more people to the left of the sign. Everyone is standing on elevated platforms.The last float had the most controversial item and, as a result, the one that drew the most attention: a vampire wearing a presidential sash. It's worth noting that the president at the time, Michel Temer, was nicknamed "vampire" and bore a certain resemblance to the figure.
Vampire with a presidential sash on the last car of Paraíso do Tuiuti. Image from g1.com
Image description: This is a photograph of a carnival parade. In the center, there is a figure dressed in an elaborate costume, including a presidential sash and a large crown of colorful feathers. The figure is holding a bow and arrow. On the left, another person, also dressed in a detailed costume, is pointing upward. In the background, there are other parade participants, some holding decorative plants. The scene is lit by stage lights, creating a festive atmosphere.Tuiuti's parade came in second place and had a huge media impact, which is why it was the target of both positive and negative criticism, but its relevance and courage in addressing such controversial subjects are undeniable and unforgettable.
Pandemic
During the pandemic period, several samba school workshops closed, including Tuiuti's, officially reopening only from November 2020 onward. However, the school was already operating before that for events with a reduced number of people, featuring performances by repentistas and dancers.
During the pandemic period, the school collected food for donation. Today the school is showing great excitement, with the parade confirmed for 2022.
Image taken from the Escola de Samba Paraíso do Tuiuti website
Image description: The image is a circular badge with a blue and yellow background. In the center, there is a symbol in yellow that appears to be a crown or an ornate emblem. Around the symbol, there are two horizontal blue and yellow bands, with the name "G.R.E.S Paraíso do Tuiuti" written in yellow letters. The bands are decorated with golden foliage on each side.Image taken from liesa.globo.com
Image description: The image is a photograph of a woman dancing with a samba school. She is wearing a vibrant yellow costume with gold details. The woman holds a blue and yellow flag with one hand raised above her head. In the background, there are other members of the samba school, also dressed in colorful costumes, dancing and celebrating.For the São Cristóvão neighborhood
It's easy to get to Paraíso do Tuiuti, which is located at R. Caieiras, 2. Bus lines 277, 265, and 269, among others, are some of the rides that can drop you off there.
Paraíso do Tuiuti has been adding to the neighborhood's history since 1952 through its culture, inspiring residents themselves to take part.
