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Rio de Janeiro City Hall begins construction on the Rio-Áfricas Cultural Center in the Port Zone.
Published on 21/11/2025 - 13:00 | Updated on 23/11/2025 - 17:22
Demolition begins on the old maternity hospital, where the Rio-Áfricas Cultural Center will be located - Photo: Marcelo Piu Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes inaugurated the Rio-Áfricas Cultural Center this Friday, November 21st. This space will help consolidate the Little Africa region in the Port Zone as a territory of memory, identity, and resistance. Alongside Vice-Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, Paes oversaw the demolition of part of the old Pró-Matre building on Avenida Venezuela – the first stage in the construction process. The event took place one day after the City Hall announced the Praça Onze Maravilha project, which will bring about significant transformations in the Praça Onze, Catumbi, Centro, and Estácio areas, reinforcing the appreciation and preservation of the city's heritage and history.
– The idea behind the project is to consolidate the discoveries made in this area, from the implementation of the Porto Maravilha project, to the discovery of the Valongo Wharf, which was a landmark in connecting the African diaspora and shaping the history of the city of Rio de Janeiro. More than a million enslaved Africans arrived through the Valongo Wharf, and our goal is to narrate this connection between the formation of Rio and the African people. This is a broad project that complements the Praça Onze Maravilha project, boosting the development of Porto Maravilha. We want to reclaim the history of Black people in the formation of our city and transform these spaces into attractive locations for tourists and the population – stated Mayor Eduardo Paes.
The architectural design of the new center, located near Cais do Valongo, is by architect Marcus Vinicius Damon Martins de Souza Rodrigues, from Estúdio Módulo de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, winner of the competition promoted in partnership between Companhia Carioca de Parcerias e Investimentos (CCPar) and the Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil (IAB-RJ). The project was chosen from among 36 submitted by Black Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking African architects.
– Our distinguishing feature lay in the profound respect shown for the surroundings. This is a proposal that did not aim for prominence in the region, but rather to respect and engage in dialogue with its immediate surroundings, such as the Valongo Wharf. It is an architecture that aims to promote a connection, a meeting point between African ancestry and the legacy of Brazilian modern architecture, considered by many authors as the cradle of modern architecture in Brazil, with roots in Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, it was crucial for us to promote this reconciliation, a project that not only incorporates symbolism from African religions and matrices, but also from peoples of African origin in their entirety – highlighted architect Marcus Vinicius, who also participated in the meeting.
Architecture with references to African ancestry.
With three floors and a tree-lined courtyard, the Rio-Áfricas Cultural Center is beginning construction on the site where the traditional Pró Matre maternity hospital operated for over nine decades. Species such as snake plant, agapanthus, and Texas grass make up the landscaping, inspired by African symbolism and the Atlantic Forest. The facade will feature patterns inspired by African designs and perforated panels, acting as a filter for natural light. A terrace on the top floor will offer a direct view of the Valongo Wharf.
– The place continues to be a maternity ward, but an ancestral one, with many ideas, many projects. Many joys will continue to be born and prosper – highlighted Luiz Eduardo Negrogun, president of the State Council for the Rights of Black People and the Promotion of Racial Equality, alongside Paes and Cavaliere.
Promoting Little Africa and the legacy of Porto Maravilha
The construction of the Rio-Áfricas Cultural Center is part of a series of revitalization efforts for Porto Maravilha, initiated in 2009, which include the redevelopment of the Valongo Wharf and partnerships with Iphan, IDG, BNDES, and private companies.
The area where the facility is located is land owned by Cury Construtora, which ceded the land and is carrying out the works as a counterpart to the Rio de Janeiro City Hall. For the municipal secretary of Economic Development, Osmar Lima, the facility represents a fundamental step in recognizing the Black contribution to the history of Rio and Brazil and gives life back to a property that was deteriorating.
– This project adds to a vast and ongoing effort to revitalize and enhance the cultural landscape that has been underway for some time in the Port Region of Rio. Its location is strategic and of utmost importance. Furthermore, it integrates with a complex of existing cultural facilities, such as the Rio Art Museum and the Museum of Tomorrow – stated Lima.
The cultural center, which is being built near the Valongo Wharf—a historical landmark of the African diaspora recognized by UNESCO—will focus on valuing Afro-diasporic ancestry through exhibitions, displays, artistic training, and educational activities.
"There is no Brazilian culture that does not demonstrate reverence for the African continent. The Cultural Center will host exhibitions of global scope. It will have not only permanent exhibitions, but also ample space for activities such as music, dance and theater, with a primary focus on exhibitions," explained the Municipal Secretary of Culture, Lucas Padilha.
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