São Paulo – Whenever Arab immigration to Brazil is brought up, memories of the late 19th and early 20th century are conjured, when ships from the West docked in the country filled with people eager to rebuild their lives away from the Ottoman Empire. That was in fact the major migratory wave, comprised mainly of Christians seeking better lives. However, starting in the 1970s, another strong wave brought more Arabs to Brazil, including many Muslims.
“Ever since the Lebanese Civil War, Brazil tends to receive Muslim Arabs, especially São Paulo,” says Osvaldo Truzzi, a professor at the University Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) and author of the book “Patrícios – Sírios e Libaneses em São Paulo” (Fellow Countrymen – Syrians and Lebanese in São Paulo). The Civil War in Lebanon lasted until 1990 and was characterized by confrontations between different political and religious groups, including Maronite Christians and Muslims. In 1976, a massacre of 1,000 people by Christian forces led to a massive exodus from the country.
Not all those who immigrated more recently, however, are Lebanese. Many are Syrians and Palestinians.
According to Truzzi, the Muslims, just like the Christians, sought Brazil to make money. “They regard Brazil as a good place to earn money,” he says. Unlike the first wave, however, many of those who arrived later on came ‘anchored’ by relatives who already lived here. The social issue also contributed to the scenario of possible economic upheaval. “Brazil does not have discrimination problems as do some other places in Europe and the United States,” says Truzzi.
These new immigrants tended to agglomerate in regions where Muslim or Arab communities already existed, such as São Bernardo do Campo, which harbours a Mosque, or even in the vicinities of Oriente Street, known for Arab commercial establishments, in the Brás neighbourhood of São Paulo. Most were helped by the community settled there. “There already was an established network which was able to provide jobs, schools and consigned goods to sell in,” says Truzzi.
Despite its significance, the sociologist explains that this wave of migration was much smaller than the Christian one. In the late 19th century, immigrants would leave their land as way to escape the Turks, who dominated the region and were Muslims. As economic problems increased in the region in the early 20th century, the flow of migrants increased.
Unlike the Europeans, however, the Arabs arrived in Brazil willing to become merchants. Most started out as peddlers and then opened their own stores. Many went on to become major entrepreneurs. So much so that one of the foremost commercial streets in the country, 25 de Março, was established by them. March 25th, by the way, also became the day on which Arab immigration to Brazil is celebrated.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
