São Paulo – The Arab Community Day celebration hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday evening (25th) at São Paulo’s Esporte Clube Sírio had massive attendance from community members, executives, diplomats and politicians. The reception’s crowning moment was the announcement of winners and presentation of prizes of film contest The Arabs and 25th of March Street.
Arab chamber president Marcelo Sallum said the contest has encouraged research into the history of Arab immigration to Brazil and its connection with 25th of March Street, a traditional street retail hub in the city of São Paulo. “That’s where the ideas and resources for our community’s major works came from, including the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce,” he asserted.
Sallum discussed the place where Arab immigrants settled beginning in the early 19th century and proceeded to tell a few stories. For instance, he said the street was originally called Beco das Sete Voltas (Portuguese for Seven-Turn Alley), in a reference to Tamanduateí River, which has since been channeled but used to run through the area. The river port incoming goods would enter through has lent its name to Ladeira Porto Geral (literally General Port Hill), which connects Boa Vista and 25th of March streets.
These references should be enough for any São Paulo dweller, but to those unfamiliar, it’s worth noting these are some of the busiest roads in the metropolis.
Sallum also said that as early as 1901, there used to be 500 stores there, but now there are over 3,300, according to União dos Lojistas da 25 de Março (Univinco), the local storeowners union. He listed a few curiosities: besides having “incubated” some of the then-fledgling Brazilian industry in the past, the Arab immigrants who set up shop in the area were the ones who ushered in installment and discount sales in Brazil!
Icarabe president Salem Nasser said Arab culture is part of Brazilian culture via the influence of immigrants, and lauded the response elicited by the film contest. “I am extremely happy with the film contest’s success and I hope it has also fulfilled its target, artistically speaking,” he stated.
Nasser spoke on the “great partnership” between Icarabe and the Arab Chamber. “Among all our partners, the Arab Chamber is second to none,” he said. The two organizations have collaborated in carrying out several activities in the past.
São Paulo State secretary of Culture Marcelo Matos Araújo said the contest was important not just to preserving the memory of an immigrant group, but to the city and the state of São Paulo altogether. “This action is extremely relevant to our country!,” he said.
The Palestinian ambassador in Brasília and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, made reference to the sfiha, which the Arab Chamber president also listed among his childhood memories during his address. “It is a fingerprint left by immigrants and has become ingrained in Brazilian personality and culture,” he said. The delicacy can be sampled all over the country.
The diplomat also conveyed to the audience “his care, respect and admiration towards the people of Syria,” a civil war-ridden country with strong ties to Brazil by way of immigrants.
“We are capable of facing up to terrorism and terrorists with fierce determination,” he said on behalf of all Arab ambassadors. Alzeben also reminded attendees of his country, “which lives under the aegis of colonization and occupation.”
On another note, he underscored the “interchange between our age-old Arab culture and Brazil’s own beautiful, vibrant culture,” which gave rise to “achievements and milestones in the country.”
Omani ambassador Khalid Salim Al Jaradi also presented the Arab Chamber president with a mother-of-pearl piece handcrafted in Palestine. “This is the day of all Arabs in Brazil,” he said.
The celebration was sponsored by the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone (RAK FTZ) and Emirates Airline and by the Tivoli hotel chain, with backing from Clube Sírio, Clube Atlético Monte Líbano and Grupo Bandeirantes.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
