The Consulate General of the United States in Rio de Janeiro allocated, this Tuesday (10), US$ 295 thousand to the AfrOrigens Institute, aimed at conservation actions for the wreckage of the brig Camargo, the last slave ship to disembark enslaved Africans in Brazil in 1852. The vessel has been wrecked since that year on the coast of Angra dos Reis (photo), in the state of Rio.
The funds come from the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), a program created by the US Department of State in 2001 to provide financial support for initiatives to preserve global cultural heritage. AFCP has already benefited ten Brazilian historical sites.
“Support for the Camargo brig perfectly symbolizes what the Ambassadors Fund represents: an enduring U.S. commitment to preserving cultural memory, promoting historical understanding, and strengthening our shared values,” said Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, in ceremony at the Museum of Afro-Brazilian History and Culture (Muhcab), in Gamboa, Rio.
Stolen and later captained by Nathaniel Gordon, the brig brought around 500 Africans from Mozambique to work as slaves on Brazilian plantations in 1852, two years after the promulgation of the Eusébio de Queirós law, which prohibited the trafficking of slaves to Brazil.
Conviction
Almost a decade later, the captain was captured in Congo, convicted and sentenced to death in the United States, becoming the only American executed for trafficking enslaved Africans.
Now, over three years, the investment period, underwater archeology activities will be developed, which include 360º mapping of the entire archaeological site, identification, study, historical analysis and preservation of all structures and artifacts that are found.
Furthermore, on land, the project will include protecting the memory of the local quilombola community, Santa Rita do Bracuí, a descendant of enslaved Africans transported by slave ships such as the Camargo.
United States Consulate announced, in Rio, funds for the conservation of the wreckage of the brig Camargo – photo – US Consulate/Disclosure
The actions will include signaling points of historical relevance in the region, such as a clandestine port, a cemetery for enslaved people and farm structures for reception, documentation and preservation.
According to the United States consulate, quilombola members of the community were formally hired to actively participate in the work, through a base already installed within the quilombo. They will be trained in techniques such as archeology initiation, underwater diving, documentation and audiovisual production so that they can transform the results of their work into sustainable resources for the community.
“The United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation is a fundamental recognition for AfrOrigens and the Bracuí quilombola community. By promoting the sustainable use of this historical heritage, the project strengthens the fight for territorial rights, promotes the appreciation of Afro-descendant cultural identity and creates sustainable opportunities for generating income. This initiative consolidates the role of heritage as a tool for social transformation and historical reparation, connecting the past to the present to inspire more just and inclusive futures”, said the president of AfrOrigens, Luis Felipe Santos.
What is the Ambassadors Fund
The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation was established in 2001 by the US Department of State to safeguard global cultural heritage. The initiative arose from concerns about the destruction of historic sites and cultural traditions due to conflict, natural disasters and globalization.
The fund provides financial support for projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage around the world. Through grants, it engages local communities and organizations, promoting international collaboration and cultural exchange. The fund supports projects such as the restoration of historic buildings, the conservation of traditional crafts and the promotion of cultural practices, ultimately enhancing intercultural understanding.
In 2018, also in Rio de Janeiro, the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation granted US$500,000 for work to preserve Valongo Wharf, the largest preserved port of disembarkation for around one million enslaved Africans in the Americas.
