In the last episode of Saik’s Agri-Treks, we toured Carnaval celebrations in São Paulo and Rio De Jainero and the statue “Christ the Redeemer.” We also learned of Carnaval’s significance to the favelas, where many of the samba schools are formed.
Favelas are areas typically located on the periphery of large cities in Brazil, where those who could not afford housing within the city formed residences of their own. Some of the most well-known favelas exist on the outskirts of Rio, formed in the late nineteenth century with the abolition of slavery and the demise of a rebellion in Brazil’s northeast. The favelas continued to grow in the twentieth century, largely due to urbanization and a lack of affordable housing.
In recent years, the favelas have seen incredible change, as cities and government continue to extend services. For Rio, this means providing higher security and support to roughly 20% of its population.
In this video, Rob Saik, host of Agri-Treks and founder of Agri-Trend, takes us through Rio’s favelas, sharing history, exploring the marketplaces and describing some of the recent changes.
See more episodes of Saik’s Agri-Treks here!
