Cais do Valongo: An iconic port of Brazil

Located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Cays do Valongo is a place of historical significance that has left a deep mark on the country’s history and the collective memory of its people. Walongo Wharf was built in 1811 for the purpose of trading African men and women. Viceroy Luis de Almeida ordered its construction to create a specific area for business. Although it was legal at the time, everything that went around selling people was not a pretty sight; Thus, what happened in the more central area was shifted to the port area.

It was first known “Dangal Dock”. As was the case with all arrivals, before being sold to markets, scores of people died from disease, malnutrition, or the shock of transfers and the inhumane conditions of dock life.

As the slave trade grew in Latin America, Rio de Janeiro became the center for this disgusting practice.

In 2011, during the revitalization works of the port area of ​​Rio, the remains of Cais do Valongo were rediscovered. They have now found material from the Congo, Angola and Mozambique, thus providing very important information for the construction of the identity of Afro-descendants in Brazil. This led to the creation of archaeological discoveries Archaeological and Ecological Park of Guis do ValongoIt was opened in 2017. In this year, UNESCO declared The historical heritage of mankind. The walkway along which the enslaved people walked is still preserved; It is estimated that over a million people were forcibly landed there.

Brazil was the last country in the region to abolish or end slavery in 1888, and today it has the largest Afro-descendant population in the world (56% of its population). As a part of Principles of repair President Lula da Silva and his administration announced in March this year that they would respect the historic site. Guy’s do Walongo Park is an important historical site and memorial to enslaved Africans. It has become a place of tribute to the victims, a symbol of the struggle against oppression and the quest for equality.