There is currently a wonderful curator who is diligently trying to upgrade and expand the Museum and its place as a primary historical resource in Rio de Janeiro. The paint was peeling off of the walls, mold was everywhere and there were holes in the floor so large, one had to be very careful to not fall through into the church!Īfter several restoration projects, the Museum was most recently reopened in 2013. Display cases were cracked, broken, and propped up. There were leaks in the ceiling, with large plastic tarps hung in failing attempts to stop the water from damaging the artifacts. There was no curator, there were no hours, and I was able to enter the space and wander it at will. When I first went there in 2004, one could hardly call it a museum.

After the reconstruction of the Church, the museum was reopened in 1969. In 1967, a fire destroyed the building and many artifacts-shackles, torture instruments, the tabernacle and 2 banners that were being restored-were lost. The museum was founded in 1938 curating instruments of slavery, furniture, documents, banners, abolitionist flags, books, photographs of men who were celebrated in the campaign for abolition, such as: Luíz Gama, José do Patrocínio, Joaquim Nabuco, Castro Alves, André Rebouças, Cruz e Sousa and others, as well as artwork, handicrafts, tools, and so much more. It would be 50 more years, however, before the realization that this institution housed a huge African and Afro-Brazilian cultural patrimony. The Black Museum is situated at the back of the 18th century building of the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Saint Benedict Black Brotherhood.Ĭhattel slavery was ended in Brazil in 1888, making it the last country to abolish this horrifying practice. The closure is indefinite and the reasons have not been clarified. As of March 14, 2019, the Black Museum is closed to the public.

Nós by Maurício Negro