São Luís festivals draw cultural funding and legal oversight

The Ayó festival took place on July 30‑31 in São Luís, Maranhão, featuring local and invited black artists, a free concert by Sandra de Sá, an Afro‑cultural market, and workshops in public schools. The event is organized by the Instituto Cultural Pé no Chão, sponsored by Vale under Brazil’s Federal Incentive Law, and supported by the municipal government and the city’s racial equality office.

Following a performance by the national band Falamansa at the Feirinha São Luís, the Maranhão Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a recommendation to the city hall urging the preservation of the market’s original cultural mission. The office called for transparent use of public funds, objective criteria for hiring artists, and regular consultation with local cultural councils to maintain the event’s focus on Maranhão’s heritage and creative economy.