São Paulo – SESC Vila Mariana in São Paulo will hold the third edition of the Cultural Asylums Fair on December 14 and 15, an event that raises awareness on refuge with representatives from Syria, Senegal, Bolivia, French Guiana, Iran, Peru, Congo, Angola, Togo, Colombia and Venezuela.
The program on Saturday and Sunday includes musical performances, chats and the sale of items from those countries, such as African dolls, Syrian makeup, Arab henna, Iranian purses and scarfs, Venezuelan arepas, and others. Performances will include an open lesson in Arab folk dance “Dabke,” “young refugee people” soirée, and other free activities.
Dabke is a dance based on feet stamping, jumps, and leg intertwinement, generally danced together. It’s believed it was born form the folk tradition of stomping the dirt hard in the region of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.
According to figures from the National Committee for Refugees (Conare), Brazil had over 11,000 refugees by 2018. A refugee is defined as an individual forced to flee their country for fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, religion or social group or massive violation of human rights
Political and economic crisis and weather-related disasters are listed as the main factors characterizing the current immigratory flow to Brazil, and most refugees come from Haiti, Syria and Venezuela.
SESC São Paulo has held activities that provide integration with refugees and refuge seekers since 1995, when Cáritas Brasileira (Arquidiocesana de São Paulo) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Portuguese language teaching and cultural performances are some of the activities the units hold to allow for the interchange of experiences and knowledges between foreigners and Brazilians. The Cultural Asylums Fair is one of these actions.
Quick Facts
Cultural Asylums Fair
Praça de Eventos – Sesc Vila Mariana
Rua Pelotas, 141, São Paulo – SP
Find out more: (11) 5080-3000
sescsp.org.br
Free admission
Saturday, December 14
1-3 pm – Arab Dance Open Lesson – Grupo Mawara Dabke (Syria).
3:30-5 pm – “Sexuality” chat with Lara Elizabeth Lopes (Mozambique) and Juanita Hernández Solano (Colombia).
5:30-6:30 pm – “Coral Infantil Jolie – Crianças refugiadas – IKMR” performance.
Sunday, December 15
1-2 pm – Musical performance with Mah Mooni Persian music trio (Iran and Syria)
2:30-3:30 pm – “Jovens em Refúgio” soirée.
4-5:30 pm – Art and Therapy – Self-Esteem Health – Art exercises – therapy.
5:30-6:30 pm – Katuta Grupo Folclórico Boliviano performance.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
