Students created a slide about the history of Slam Caju, produced from interviews conducted with members of the collective. The slide was adapted into text form for publication.
The Caju slam was born out of Jinaki Ketema, founder and leader of the collective. The first group was formed by Júlia Tavares, Vitor Augusto, Carolina, and Katiaa Dami. Today the team in place is made up of Dave, Tavares, Solar Sekhemet, Pamela Conecta, and Vinícius.
How did you get the initiative to create Slam Caju? The project came from the idea of having more culture, education, and one more sociocultural movement in the neighborhood. The slam scene has been growing enormously in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and Slam Caju is the first slam in the neighborhood of Caju.
What is the purpose of Slam Caju? To put Caju on the map. Through art, culture and education, the collective's purpose is to value the neighborhood of Caju, which today is forgotten by the state and even by the city itself. The neighborhood is a historic place, which was the resting home of Dom João VI, former emperor of Brazil.
Does the collective have any project to improve the neighborhood? All the projects aim to improve aspects of the neighborhood. The poetry battle brings peripheral literature, and "planta ae caju" teaches and helps people plant, also reforesting the neighborhood with native trees, such as the cashew tree. The Patrick Pachola sarau brings diversity in artistic practices such as music, dance, visual arts, and workshops. Our Caiuí go into schools and squares, educating through poetry about the neighborhood and encouraging literature.
