Chapéu Mangueira and Babilônia

Chapéu Mangueira and Babilônia are favelas in the Leme neighborhood, in the South Zone of Rio. Like other favelas, these communities lack many public services and suffer from insufficient infrastructure in the streets and residences. On the other hand, those who live here have an exceptional view of the city. On the one side is Sugarloaf Mountain, on the other, Botafogo Bay and the Glória Marina, and from a third viewpoint, the shoreline of Leme and Copacabana can be seen.

Occupation of the hill began at the top and moved down. The first houses were built in 1908 on steep land, without infrastructure. Today there are some seven thousand residents, of whom 80% have lived in the community for more than 20 years. However, 20% of the houses are still not connected to the sewage system and water supply systems, forcing the families to live under precarious conditions. Unlike other large favelas in the city, Chapéu Mangueira and Babilônia have few commercial establishments and public spaces. For the entire community there is only one school and two day care centers available. Also, there is no health care clinic.

Inaugurated in June 2008, The Police Pacification Unit (UPP) brought peace to the residents, who had previously lived under the rules and power of the criminal group that controlled the drug trade on the hill. This location, which had previously been used to hide drug dealers and arms, can now be explored by residents and tourists. The UPP Babilônia/Chapéu Mangueira has 99 men coordinated by Captain Felipe Magalhães dos Reis, who has worked for ten years in the Police Force and has four years of experience with community policing. The Police Station has three floors, a total of eight cells, and can support more than 20 police officers per shift.

Today, the population lives in peace and is beginning to organize the community. The residents’ association is gaining strength, together with partner cooperatives. The residents themselves get together to debate and solve the problems as a community. A climate of harmony is taking the place of fear and oppression.

Real estate in the Leme neighborhood has already gone up in value approximately 35% since the installation of the UPP. With the occupation of the favelas, the police also intend to reduce the levels of violence and muggings along the waterfront. After the pacification, new projects are being planned and designed for the future, like the community movie program.

The favela of Babilônia has already served as the scenario in 1959 for the full length French-Brazilian feature film Orpheu Negro, (Black Orpheus), winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1960. Since then, interest in this region has grown, and visits to the hillside have increased. During New Year’s Eve 2010, many tourists watched the fireworks from the top of the favela. The residents’ association also organized nature walks and art fairs, with lunches of typical foods. Several other social projects are also underway. One major project has been the reforestation work done by Copbabilônia, which has recovered areas of the Atlantic Forest and already planted more than 190 thousand saplings.

Vista Babilônia

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