São Paulo's first Black Consciousness Festival opens with 300 free events over eight days

São Paulo's first Festival da Consciência Negra (Black Consciousness Festival) opened on Saturday (November 14), running for eight days until November 21, with about 300 free events across the city celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture. Organised by the city's culture and creative economy secretariat, the festival is built around Brazil's Black Consciousness Day on November 20; in previous years the city ran scattered special programmes, and this is the first time the celebration has been organised as a festival.

Opening weekend: exhibitions, a tribute show and a hip-hop party

On opening day, three exhibitions open from 10 a.m. at the Centro Cultural São Paulo, and singer Heloísa Lucas performs a Tina Turner tribute at the Centro Cultural Vila Itororó at 7 p.m. On Sunday (November 15), the Casa de Cultura Hip Hop Leste in the east of the city holds its anniversary party, with street dance, rap and lowrider car culture from the afternoon, closing at 7:30 p.m. with a set by KL Jay, DJ of Racionais MC's, one of the most important groups in Brazilian rap history.

Seu Jorge headlines next Friday; all events free

On Black Consciousness Day itself, Friday (November 20), Avenida São João in the city centre hosts several stages: the Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra opens at 11 a.m., Seu Jorge performs at 1 p.m., followed by Os Prettos at 5:30 p.m. and Dudu Nobre at 8:30 p.m.; Praça Dom José Gaspar hosts Carlos Dafé and Amaro Freitas the same day. On Saturday (November 21) at 8 p.m., blues musician Big Chico marks 30 years in music at the Centro Cultural da Penha. All events are free; schedules may change, so visitors should check the city's official programme before travelling.

(File photo: an Afro-Brazilian percussion group performing in São Paulo, not a scene from this year's festival. Photo: Amanda Trevisan)