Quilombola representation in Rio de Janeiro

Quilombola representation and history have been highlighted through various public platforms in Rio de Janeiro.

During Rio Innovation Week, Bia Nunes, president of the State Association of Quilombola Communities (ACQUILERJ), participated in a panel regarding gender policies. Nunes argued that innovation is rooted in ancestrality, noting that quilombola peoples have utilized ancestral technologies in areas such as biodiversity preservation, water management, and traditional agriculture. She stated, “To speak of innovation is also to recognize the collective intelligence of our ancestors, who created sustainable solutions long before this concept gained space in major debates.”

Following this, the Museum of Justice in Rio de Janeiro launched an exhibition titled ‘Lideranças Quilombolas do Rio de Janeiro: História e Resistência’. Curated by Lydia de Carvalho, the exhibit focuses on the historical and contemporary roles of Black women in the struggle for rights. The display features historical figures like Dandara dos Palmares alongside contemporary leaders from the Quilombo de Rasa, and includes a map identifying over 50 officially recognized quilombola communities in the state.