Rio’s Lapa Neighborhood Hosts Market With Refugee and Immigrant Artists

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On August 3rd, the first edition of the Mescla Market will take place, bringing together exhibitors of handcrafted and sustainable products in fashion, accessories, and cosmetics, in addition to decorative items.

The event features independent designers and also gives voice to refugee and immigrant artists, who will have an opportunity to provide workshops, lectures and introduce themselves as artists. Admission is free, and it will be held at the Hotel Selina, in Lapa. In addition to being a sustainable market, the event is also a venue for plural performances, providing the public with a blend of multiple cultures within a single environment.

The first edition of the Mescla market will be attended by a Gambian refugee, Mariama Bah, who will talk about her journey, the challenges of getting to Brazil and will address the issue of child marriage.

The event will also promote an Arabic calligraphy workshop conducted by Moroccan Mohammed El Jazouli. There will also be a musical performance with Venezuelan singer Julieta Hernández, who will be playing a Venezuelan instrument known as the “cuatro” which in 2013 was declared a cultural heritage of her country of origin.

In addition to these attractions, Congolese immigrant Thezis will cruise the hotel during a performance entitled SAPE (Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People), with music, dance and specific garments, in a unique style characterized by its exuberance. This performance results from a cultural movement that became popular in Congo in the 1960s, in which clothing is part of the construction of a set of meanings and elegance must be reflected in the appearance as well as in manners and poise.

“Lapa is a multicultural, plural and welcoming neighborhood, and the aim of the event is to show a little of this blend, diversity and artistic expressions, hence the name Mescla (mixture),” points out Carla Sobrosa, idealizer of the event and partner of Semente Produções.

Carla tells us that the Hotel Selina was chosen to host this market because it is in line with the blending concept, as an alternative venue that inspires creativity and encourages this multicultural outlook. “The hotel offers many wonderful settings that will be explored during the market, including a gastronomy workshop that will be held in the hotel’s own kitchen,” says Carla.