Lots to explore on "Rap, Reggae and Cultural Resistance in Belo Horizonte, Brazil." Here are some photos from this vibrant and often contradictory city, the nation's sixth largest, which has thriving underground music, street arts and theater scenes, forming vital elements of resistance against the entrenched social divisions based on race, class and ideology.
Check out the weekly Duelo de MCs, where favela kids engage in pitched rap battles on the mic; Roger Deff, Samora Nzinga and Zaika dos Santos all had formative experiences here. There are also social projects run in the massive favela complex of Aglomerada da Serra by Rastafari collective Roots Ativa, led by former reggae DJ and promoter Tiago Lopes, and the La de Favelinha upcycled clothing concern, run by former rap star, Kdu dos Anjos.
All photos copyright David Katz.
The Duelo de MCs below the Santa Tereza aqueduct
A Battle at the Duelo de MCs
Battle Part 2 with Trapeze Artist
A Duelo Contestant with Trapeze Artist
A Duelo MC
Another Duelo MC
Another Duelo MC
The Crowd at Duelo de MCs
Street Artist at the Duelo de MCs
Roger Deff
Dj Hot Apocalypse
Oreia contemplates his image
Hot & Oreia
Samora Nzinga
Guardião
Guardião and Samora Nzinga
Zaika Dos Santos
Leo Vidigal of DeSka Reggae (L) and Tiago Lopes of Roots Ativa
Roots Ativa's Ital Kitchen at the weekly Vegan Fair in Santa Tereza
Tiago Lopes at Roots Ativa's HQ in Cafezal, Aglomerada da Serra
The staircase to Roots Ativa
The view from Roots Ativa HQ
Shopfront near Roots Ativa
Kdu Dos Anjos
La de Favelinha's HQ in Favelinha, Aglomerada da Serra
Kdu dos Anjos at La de Favelinha workshop
La de Favelinha fashion
A seamstress at La de Favelinha
A seamstress at La de Favelinha
A view from La de Favelinha
Downtown Belo Horizonte street art
Street art near the Guignard arts school in Mangabeiras
Anti-Bolsonaro graffiti in the city center
We know who killed Marielle," on the wall of the Federal University
