Brazil is the largest and most populated country in South America. The increased urbanization in the area leads to the development of large favela communities. In Rio de Janeiro the first favela was recorded in 1920 (Green, 2012, p. 132) Poverty has been around for many centuries in Brazil. Most people see and hear about the beautiful beaches and the many festivals but many are unaware of what lies beneath, which are the Favelas and the many struggles their residents face. Over 85 percent of Brazilians are living in cities, a figure expected to rise to 90 percent over the next twenty years (The world goers to the city, 2007). With approximately one third of the city population living in favelas and other types of informal settlements, it is …show more content…
Anderson Sa is a man who lives in one of the Brazilian Favelas. He was born and raised in these terrible living conditions. He also is a former drug trafficker looking for a way to help his community overcome the violence that occurs. In the documentary Anderson stated “Instead of going to sleep to my mother singing to me, I went to sleep to gun shots and people in the streets screaming”.(VIDEO CITE) This gives viewers a powerful message as to the devastating things children come to see as normal. The favelas of Rio de Janeiro are known worldwide as dangerous and marginal slums where poverty and crime are rampant (Jackiewicz, 2012, p.70). Due to the large poverty and lack of jobs, people turn to organized crime. Kids grow up idealizing the life styles of the many drug lords within favelas. Drug lords take advantage of this and recruit young kids to join their …show more content…
Latin America’s civil society is dynamic and in a constant state of mobilization, with diverse groups ranging from human rights activists and poor people’s movements to different ethnic, racial, and cultural minorities challenging the institutions of the nation-state and making claims for economic gains and cultural and political recognition (Jackiewicz, 2012, p171). Through music Afro Reggae unites their community and gives people hope for a better future. Afro Reggae gave free performances to spear their message out not only to their communities but to everyone in Brazil. They wanted to show they rest of Brazil that violence is not the only thing that comes out of Favelas but that there is also art, music, and culture. When Afro Reggae began in 1993, there was over 150 drug soldiers in the Favela Vigário, by 2004, the number of drug soldiers had fallen to less than 25 (video). Afro Reggae believed in the Shiva effect which is a Hindu God of destruction and rebirth. Their theory was that no one is too far gone there is always hope. Although, Afro Reggae has not completely eradicated the violence in their community they have greatly reduced it. Afro Reggae continues with their moment and ending the violence in favelas around brazil. Afro Reggae can be viewed as a success story because of the many lives they have touched and great