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About
The Instituto de Pesquisa e Memória Pretos Novos (IPN) is located in the Gamboa neighborhood, in the port area of Rio de Janeiro—an area historically known as Pequena África, deeply marked by the presence of African and Afro-Brazilian communities since the period of slavery. Founded on May 13, 2005, the Institute’s mission is to research, study, investigate, and preserve the material and immaterial heritage related to the African diaspora, with particular emphasis on the Cemetery of the Pretos Novos, a historical and archaeological site that lies at the core of its activities.
The Cemetery of the Pretos Novos was a burial ground for newly arrived Africans who died shortly after disembarking in Rio de Janeiro, especially between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Most of them did not survive the extreme conditions of the transatlantic crossing or their first days on land. Their bodies were buried in precarious conditions, often in mass graves, revealing the structural violence of the slave system and the profound dehumanization that marked their experience. Rediscovered in the early 2000s, the site has become one of the most powerful material testimonies of urban slavery in Brazil.
By centering its work on this site of memory, the IPN contributes directly to the recognition and valorization of African and Afro-Brazilian history, while fostering critical reflection on slavery and its lasting impacts. Its activities are organized in an interdisciplinary and collaborative structure that connects research, education, culture, and sustainability.
Through ongoing archaeological investigations, collection maintenance, and educational initiatives, the Institute generates knowledge that not only sheds light on the past but also stimulates essential debates on racial inequality, citizenship, and social justice in Brazil. Its main objectives include promoting reflection based on the history of the Cemetery of the Pretos Novos, developing educational and cultural projects, and supporting academic research in fields such as historiography, archaeology, and the study of slavery.
The Education Unit offers courses, workshops, and lectures based on a comprehensive pedagogical framework, addressing themes such as African history, archaeology of the African diaspora, African cosmologies, and memory and heritage. It also promotes the valorization of intangible cultural practices—such as capoeira, jongo, and music—and offers postgraduate (lato sensu) programs in partnership with educational institutions.
The Contemporary Art Unit expands dialogue with the present through exhibitions, artistic residencies, and exchanges that address issues of human rights, racial equality, and gender. Meanwhile, the Sustainability Unit ensures the continuity of the Institute’s activities through initiatives such as the “Friends of IPN” program and a shop dedicated to the dissemination of publications and products related to African and Afro-Brazilian themes.
More than a center of memory, the IPN is a living space for critical engagement with the past and present, committed to fostering a more conscious, diverse, and equitable society.
The Cemetery of the Pretos Novos was a burial ground for newly arrived Africans who died shortly after disembarking in Rio de Janeiro, especially between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Most of them did not survive the extreme conditions of the transatlantic crossing or their first days on land. Their bodies were buried in precarious conditions, often in mass graves, revealing the structural violence of the slave system and the profound dehumanization that marked their experience. Rediscovered in the early 2000s, the site has become one of the most powerful material testimonies of urban slavery in Brazil.
By centering its work on this site of memory, the IPN contributes directly to the recognition and valorization of African and Afro-Brazilian history, while fostering critical reflection on slavery and its lasting impacts. Its activities are organized in an interdisciplinary and collaborative structure that connects research, education, culture, and sustainability.
Through ongoing archaeological investigations, collection maintenance, and educational initiatives, the Institute generates knowledge that not only sheds light on the past but also stimulates essential debates on racial inequality, citizenship, and social justice in Brazil. Its main objectives include promoting reflection based on the history of the Cemetery of the Pretos Novos, developing educational and cultural projects, and supporting academic research in fields such as historiography, archaeology, and the study of slavery.
The Education Unit offers courses, workshops, and lectures based on a comprehensive pedagogical framework, addressing themes such as African history, archaeology of the African diaspora, African cosmologies, and memory and heritage. It also promotes the valorization of intangible cultural practices—such as capoeira, jongo, and music—and offers postgraduate (lato sensu) programs in partnership with educational institutions.
The Contemporary Art Unit expands dialogue with the present through exhibitions, artistic residencies, and exchanges that address issues of human rights, racial equality, and gender. Meanwhile, the Sustainability Unit ensures the continuity of the Institute’s activities through initiatives such as the “Friends of IPN” program and a shop dedicated to the dissemination of publications and products related to African and Afro-Brazilian themes.
More than a center of memory, the IPN is a living space for critical engagement with the past and present, committed to fostering a more conscious, diverse, and equitable society.