NegroMuro Murals Honoring Black Rio Heritage Recognized as Cultural Heritage

In Rio de Janeiro, where fewer than 10% of 360 public monuments commemorate Black people despite a majority Afro-descendant population, the NegroMuro mural project has been legally recognized as part of the city's intangible cultural heritage. Founded in 2018 by researcher Pedro Rajão and visual artist Fernando Sawaya, the project comprises 80 murals across Rio portraying about 120 Black figures, including writer Machado de Assis, activist Lélia Gonzalez, singer Luiz Melodia, and councilwoman Marielle Franco. Murals are located mainly in the north zone, away from tourist areas, to focus on underserved neighborhoods. The project began in 2013 with a Fela Kuti mural and now includes workshops, guided tours, a coloring book, and commissions in Brasília and São Paulo. The murals deliberately avoid depicting pain, aiming instead to celebrate Black beauty and history.