Afroreggae history

HISTORY

The Afro Reggae Cultural Group (GCAR) was initiated in January 1993 with a newspaper called the Afro Reggae News – whose objective was to create a means to diffuse information aimed at valorizing and spreading black culture, specifically for youth connected to rhythms such as reggae, soul, hip hop, etc.

In 1993 we inaugurated our first Culture Community Center in the favela of Vigário Geral, which began to develop our social projects aiming to have a direct intervention with the Afro-Brazilian population. Soon after, this same center was consolidated through its first programs that included; dance, percussion, recycling, soccer and capoeira, which later opened the door to new commissions.

Since the beginning and until the present day the objective that defined our institutional mission was clear: To offer a cultural and artistic formation for the youth living in the favelas (shantytowns/ slums) as a means for them to create their own citizenship and have access to alternatives to narco-trafficking and menial jobs, and to furthermore transform themselves and empower other youths along the way.

With the passing of time, the projects began to be perfected, an institution began to grow, and results began to appear. In 1997, Afro Reggae inaugurated the Afro Reggae Cultural Center Vigário Legal, which was an important step in our history. With a physically well-structured space in our community, our work could be developed with bettor quality and planning. In this process this initiative became an attributing socio-cultural practice in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

From the beginning we have been and continue to be an organization that is in a permanent state of growth and maturation. It is for this reason that we do not get fixed to only one way of working, only one project, or only stay in the community of Vigário Geral. Presently, GCAR is involved in 4 different communities and in a number of diverse projects.

In spite of all the diverse activities in Vigário Geral music has been the best instrument to attract the participation of the youth in GCAR. The success obtained from the Afro Reggae band, artistically as much as an example of a social project has inspired other youth to follow in the same path. Today in Vigário, there are three more musical groups that are in training, but none the least have already performed in public concerts; Banda Makala Música e Dança, Afro Lata e Afro Samba. The following sub-groups have also emerged from Vigário Geral: Afro Mangue, Tribo Negra, Akoni e Kitôto.