Calunga, still in the edge

Calunga, still in the edge

Descendants of former black slaves who fled to the mountains of the center - west of Brazil, the calunga spent two centuries hidden and isolated from the society, in self-sufficient communities. Contact with Indian and rural white people of catholic influence, created a hybrid culture that manifests itself in the supply and a strong syncretism. His situation was of extreme marginality, with difficulties to have drinkable water and electricity. The location of the houses, really far away between them, and the lack of a consolidated identity they prevent the struggle for the basic rights.In the last years, almost heroic individual actions, as Donates Procopi's work (indicated to the Nobel prize of the Peace in 2004), made themselves known and achieve small successes. "Quilombo", term that in the Portuguese of Brazil refers to social groups living on the edge of the society. The calunga quilombolas are considered, whose survival in the rural way, and the system's pressure around them, still represents today the biggest challenge of this community.

Location: Cavalcante, GOIÁS (Brazil)
Date: 12 18abril 2012
Equipment: Canon 400D, Tamron lens 18x200mm