Quilombolas Courses

Quilombolas are Brazilians of African descent who live in largely rural and traditional settlements known as quilombos. They are descendants of escaped African slaves and other Afro-Brazilian communities with a history of resistance in Brazil. Quilombos are unique in that they provide a space for individuals of African descent to identify together, share culture, and resist systems of oppression. The term quilombola refers to the descendants of runaway slaves, or quilombos, who developed their own communities, resisting slavery and the oppressive systems of Portuguese colonization in Brazil. Quilombolas have struggled for recognition and equality in Brazil since well before the country’s abolition of slavery in 1888. In recent years, the Brazilian government has undertaken measures to support and recognize quilombolas and other Afro-Brazilian populations. Because of this in 2019, the Brazilian government passed the ‘Quilombo Law' which grants the descendants of former runaway slaves several rights, such as collective possession of the land they occupy, access to healthcare, education, and other social services, as well as the right to practice their own customs and cultural autonomy. This “Quilombo Law” is a landmark law that was designed to not only provide rights to quilombolas and other Afro-Brazilian populations, but also to recognize the value of Afro-Brazilian history and culture. The quilombola people have a long history of resistance against the oppressive systems of colonization they faced. Their activism continues today, as they fight to gain recognition and equal rights. Quilombolas have a strong presence in Brazil and play an important role in resisting oppression and preserving the history and culture of Brazil’s African diaspora.