Community of Arturos, African heritage community in Contagem, Brazil.
The Community of Arturos is a settlement of around 600 people in the Domingos Pereira area, near the centre of Contagem, in Greater Belo Horizonte. Its residents are Black descendants of enslaved Africans, and the community takes its name from Artur Camilo Silvério, the ancestor from whom they descend.
The community traces its origin to Artur Camilo Silvério and his wife Carmelinda Maria da Silva, descendants of enslaved Africans who settled at a place called Domingos Pereira, near the centre of Contagem. Their descendants, the Arturos, still live there and number around 600 people.
The community is known for its Congado ceremonies, where music, dance, and spiritual practice merge and shape everyday life together. These celebrations show how African traditions remain alive here and are passed down through generations.
Visits are possible through guided tours offered by cultural institutions in Contagem that provide access to the community. The area is located near Belo Horizonte and is reachable by public transportation.
The community's name comes directly from Artur Camilo Silvério, the formerly enslaved ancestor from whom all Arturos descend; his wife was Carmelinda Maria da Silva. The settlement itself is called Domingos Pereira, a locality near the centre of Contagem, and today about 600 people live there.
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