Faisal Abduljawad
Professor Bieber
English 113B
28 October 2012
Favela
Houses
A favela is
a Brazilian slum, often found in the outskirts
of town or urban areas. The poor Brazilians had to move to the borders of the
town and live in areas far from the suburbs even before the arrival of the name
“favela.” Entry of many people to the urban centers caused the high demand for
housing, forcing those who were unable to find places to build their homes. The
modern favela in Brazil started developing in 1970s as many Brazilians began
moving from the countryside or rural areas to urban centers and cities. The
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) stated that six percent
of the Brazilian population (11,425,644 people) is living in favelas (2010).
Generally, favelas are known as slum places where the essential services such
as electricity and health care are absent and also as places where the drug
activities and crimes happen. Questions are being asked, how some people can
live in places like that? The suitability of favelas as homes is one of the
concerns related to these housing structures built in Brazilian towns. Although
favela’s houses are lacking of the essential facilities, ignored by the
community, and considered as dangerous places, they still serve as homes for
the urban poor.
A home refers to a place where one
resides or gets refuge. When used in reference to buildings, a home refers to a
place where either a family or an individual can live and keep property. In the
present day, households have a means of preparing food and containing sanitary
facilities. However, most of the favela houses are not accessed with the
essential facilities like water and electricity that a home should have. Access
to clean water is a primary need. Families and individuals in the favelas
access water by tapping it from the main system, which runs near the favelas
(Gay 75). The open sewerage and lack of modern toilet facilities are some of
the problems experienced by individuals living in favelas. The materials for building favelas
mostly include a mixture of garbage such as mud and sand, bricks, wood, and
sheet metals. There is no rental payment thus allowing the families to save
money for purchasing stronger materials, which include brick and cinder blocks.
Such materials are necessary for solidifying and modifying the favelas
(Perlman, 68). The poor urban residents starting building favelas beside the
edges of urban areas then moved next to the modern buildings inside the city of
Rio, which made Rio become famous of its favelas. Over time, there have been
efforts made towards modernizing the favelas and addressing the challenge of
lack of proper facilities. Due to their location, some of Rio’s favelas have
better access to essential facilities.
It is important to note that the favelas
appeared before the emergence of dense population in Brazilian cities and real
estate interests controlled the Brazilian housing business. Families of
soldiers who returned from military campaign in the Canudos were the first to
build original favela in Rio de Janeiro’s Morro De Castelo in the late 1800s.
While the increase of favela’s growth began in the 1940s, the recording of the
first favela occurred in early 1920s (Perlman, 48). The 1940s’
housing crisis in Brazil affected Brazilian living conditions and forced the
poor people in Brazil’s urban areas to develop slums in areas near suburbs. The
favelas became the main form of residence for the poor in Rio De Janeiro. As
the Brazilian industrialization drive attracted several immigrants to cities
such as Rio, the slums began spreading to the urban areas. There is an old
history behind favelas, and it is not just a bad or dangerous area as many
people would think.
However, the other urban residents see
the people who live in favelas, which are called “favelados”, as people who
affect the urban area with their presence. Unfortunately, the name “favelado”
does not only refer to people who are living in favelas but also as someone who
is living in a ghetto and who is disruptive. The opponents of favelas view the
slum structures as a manifestation of transferred poverty from the rural areas
and contribute to negative effects associated with overpopulation in urban
areas (Mayhew 63).
Unfortunately, the ignorance of favelas
is widespread among the Brazilian community. The Favela Tour Organization
stated, “The city of Rio de Janeiro itself does not legally recognize the
existence of favelas” (2009). Even the term “favela” is being misused nowadays.
The origin of the name came from a plant called “favela” that was in the hills
where the soldiers built their first houses. According to the Favela Tour
Organization, “The name originates from a species of plant with thorny leaves
that grows in the semi-arid North-East region” (2009). Sadly, the meaning of
the word “favela” has been changed to “slum” over the years. So what does the
concept of home mean to the people who live in favelas after they are being
excluded from the world and being ignored by their own society?
Nevertheless, the favelas play an
important role in the lives of families and individuals who live in them
because it makes them reflect on their rural origins. Communities that emerge
from favelas tend to develop certain religious and social organizations over
time (Perlman 81). Formation of associations whose purposes are to assist them
in obtaining some necessary services such as electricity and clean water is
part of the social life in favelas. In some cases, individuals living in the
favelas gain land ownership, which allow them to improve their homes (Perlman
10). It is fascinating how after all what favelas’ residents have been gone
through ignorance and every day crimes; they still manage to form a community
among themselves and try to help each other to survive and live a proper life.
Favelas are not only about drugs and shooting crimes. Favela can be considered as
a culture value, and the place where the Samba dance originally came from.
There are many carnivals and samba, which are known as a cultural expressions
and identity for Brazilians, happen inside the favelas. Giving that thought, it
can be seen that one of the most famous Brazilian symbol is originated from
inside of the favelas’ community. Thanks to the Favela Tour Organization,
people can experience this kind of exciting Brazilian life (2009).
In conclusion, as many of the Brazilian
population are living in favelas, it is important to note that these so-called
slums are still home for them. Critics of favelas cite violence, crime, and the
unsanitary conditions consider them as the main source of urban problems
experienced in Brazil. However, favelas still serve as homes that can reflect
not only their cultural values and identities but also the whole country
itself.
Works Cited
"Favelas «
Favela Adventures." Favela Adventures. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
<http://favelatour.org/about/favelas/>.
Gay, Robert. Popular Organization and Democracy in Rio De Janeiro: A
Tale of Two Favelas. Oxford: Oxford University, 2003. Print.
Irwin,
Mark. "As a child I heard gunshots ." Football. N.p., 25 Oct.
2008. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/1853539/Denilson-Pereira-Neves-is-living-the-dream.html>.
"|
IBGE | Subnormal Agglomerates ." IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de
Geografia e Estatística. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/presidencia/noticias/noticia_impressao.php?id_noticia=2057=1>.
Perlman,
Janice. Favela: Four
Decades of Living on the Edge in Rio de Janeiro . Cambridge:
Cambridge University, 2011. Print
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