Black Consciousness Week at Circuito Liberdade brings together contemporary cultural production, historical remembrance, awards ceremony, and a party open to the public.
From the 17th to the 23rd, spaces within the complex will offer a largely free program, ranging from performances of various art forms to workshops with nationally recognized names.
Attractions aimed at raising public awareness about Black identity, the appreciation of Black culture, and the fight against racism are the focus of the Circuito Liberdade program during Black Consciousness Week. From November 17th to 23rd, a month dedicated to the anti-racist struggle, various spaces within the complex combine Black artistic expression and historical reflections in workshops, exhibitions, performances, storytelling sessions, and lectures with nationally recognized figures. Most of the programming is free, suitable for all ages, and offered at different times of the day. Activities can be followed on the Circuito Liberdade portal, which gathers key information about each event and provides more details on the venue's website: circuitoliberdade.com.br.
At the Minas Gerais State Public Library, the common thread among the activities is the rediscovery of Black figures who played a central role in the emancipation, construction, and defense of the rights of Black people. The theme is a tribute to the writer, lawyer, journalist, and abolitionist Luiz Gama (1830-1882), a Bahian intellectual who became an unavoidable figure in national history—recognized by law as the Patron of the Abolition of Slavery in Brazil. Between November 17th and 19th, roundtables, lectures, and exhibitions will take place in the space, with a highlight being an edition of "Sempre um Papo" (Always a Chat), which invites writer Madu Costa, on Wednesday (November 19th) at 7 pm, for a dive into the literary production of Maria Firmina, a Maranhão native considered the first Black novelist in Latin America. Registration is through Sympla, with information available at www.sempreumpapo.com.br.
Science, Culture, and Blackness — The UFMG Knowledge Space, a museum that works at the interface between culture and science, is hosting a workshop for Black Consciousness Week on great inventions by Black people throughout history, such as that of Alice Ball, the American chemist who pioneered the treatment of leprosy. The public will also enjoy a storytelling session about the African continent and its peoples, as well as a sound, visual, and performative discussion with artists who work with Black art in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region.
Ubuntu Festival — The Minas Gerais Vale Memorial joins the program with the Ubuntu Festival, which will take place at Afro Galpão, in the Alto Caiçaras neighborhood, celebrating Black cultural production with literature, a show by the band Criolo de Raiz, an Afro-entrepreneur Fair, and the Tudo 10 project, with products up to R$ 10. The event is part of the Memorial Vale Itinerante project, a set of actions that keep the Memorial Vale programs alive while renovations take place in the main building in Praça da Liberdade.
Children's Programming — The MM Gerdau - Museum of Mines and Metals has reserved November 20th, Black Awareness Day, for attractions for children, highlighting the storytelling session "Djalminha and the Secrets of the Deep Sea," which has been adapted exclusively for the theme and will narrate the lives of important Black figures in Brazilian science. The activity will include sign language interpretation. The day concludes with the show "Black Music," by musician Michelle Oliveira, who presents original compositions and reinterpretations of songs that address themes of ancestry, resistance, and memory.
Meanwhile, the Toy Museum, which has programming entirely dedicated to children and their families, proposes the itinerary "Afroplay - Games From Here and There." On the 20th, 21st, and 22nd, a special program celebrates Black Awareness Day in a lighthearted, fun, and discovery-filled way. The event promotes games and activities that originated in Africa and have blended with Brazilian traditions. African toys will also be on display, allowing children to explore play in an unconventional way. Entry is affordably priced at R$20 for half-price tickets, which are purchased at the museum entrance and are valid for the day's attractions.
Ancestral — The Palácio das Artes Educational Department is hosting the themed visit “Modeling the World – Creation by the Hand of Obatalá” until Saturday (November 22nd). This visit offers a journey through the “Giramundo Dolls” exhibition, inspired by the narrative of Obatalá, the orixá who molds human beings from clay. The experience invites reflection on creation myths and the relationship between art, nature, and African ancestry. On Wednesday (November 19th), the Cine Theatro Brasil will host the concert “About Tones: POP Symphony,” in celebration of African Awareness Day, with the Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra, conducted by guest conductor Joel Barbosa and featuring multi-artist Sérgio Pererê.
Resistance and Zumbi Award — The theatrical performance “Lotus” closes the week, on Saturday and Sunday (November 22nd and 23rd) at the Sesc Palladium Pocket Theater. Written by the Minas Gerais actress Danielle Anatólio, the monologue speaks about love, overcoming challenges, beauty, life, and the experiences lived by women.
