Abstract

This episode is part of the microseries Aiuê: Listening to the Sounds of Quilombos, produced by Brazilian documentary filmmakers who have worked to establish dialogues with quilombola communities and who have created an immersive experience that highlights the historical, political, cultural, economic and social importance of quilombos in Brazil. This video presents Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, located in the Brazilian municipality of Simões Filho, in Bahia, one of the 27 federative units in Brazil. The community has existed for more than 200 years. Since the construction of the Aratu Naval Base, 40 years ago, it has faced a territorial conflict with the Brazilian Navy and has had to fight to assert community rights. The quilombola population is exposed to a series of human rights violations, such as physical attacks, threats of eviction, and bans on access to the Rio do Macacos. That prohibition prevents quilombo residents from using the water in multiple ways, including human consumption, fishing, and religious practices.