Prêmio Jejé de Oyá celebrates five years of Black leadership in Mato Grosso

The Prêmio Jejé de Oyá is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a commemorative event at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. The award was established to recognize and provide visibility to Black professionals, artists, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and leaders in Mato Grosso across various sectors, including science, education, literature, gastronomy, and social impact.

The ceremony features a performance by the group Raízes do Samba, a musical choice that honors the award's patron, José Jacintho Siqueira de Arruda, known as Jejé de Oyá. A prominent figure in Cuiabá's cultural history, Jejé was a social columnist, tailor, and carnival figure.

In addition to the main event, celebrations included activities at the Academia Mato-grossense de Letras and the ‘Rota da Ancestralidade – A Virada’, a walk through Cuiabá's historic center highlighting sites connected to Black history, such as the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte and the former Rua das Pretas.