Did you know that Morro do Macaco’s history stretches back centuries? This favela in Vila Isabel holds stories within its steep inclines. Let’s explore its past and present.
Morro do Macaco, along with Parque Vila Isabel and Pau da Bandeira, forms the Complexo dos Macacos. The area’s story begins in 1565. The Companhia de Jesus, or the Society of Jesus, owned this land. They established Fazenda dos Macacos here.
In 1759, the land became property of the Portuguese Crown. This happened after the expulsion of the Society of Jesus. The Marquês de Pombal ordered their removal from the country. Imagine the changes this brought.
Dom Pedro I even offered the land to the Duchess of Braganza in 1829. Later, in 1872, João Batista Viana Drummond bought the farm. He installed a tramline pulled by animals. Drummond founded the Companhia Arquitetônica. His aim was to sell plots of land. This transformed Redentora Isabel. It became Brazil’s first planned neighborhood. After Princess Isabel signed the Lei do Ventre Livre, the neighborhood became Vila Isabel. This date marked its official anniversary.
The first residents of Morro do Macaco were former inhabitants of Fazenda dos Macacos. Police and forest guards working there also helped settle the hill. The name comes from the many monkeys in the region. In the 1920s, descendants of slaves and people from the Northeast began to occupy the Morro do Macaco.
Early houses were simple. They were made of wood, leaves, cloth, and wattle. Water came from Borda do Mato. It also came from the fire department and a sanitary water factory. People used lamps for light. The city often demolished these homes. So, residents built them at night. Eventually, brick replaced the original materials. The first residents with electricity often shared or rented it to others.
According to residents, significant improvements happened under Carlos Lacerda and Brizola. The Favela-Bairro II project also helped. Residents organize into centers and associations. They pool resources and lobby the government. They seek improvements for Morro do Macaco. Parts of the Morro do Macaco face the risk of rockslides.
Morro do Macaco had a strong samba culture. It influenced the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school. By the 2020s, rap and funk became the community’s preferred music.
The Complexo dos Macacos was controlled by Amigo dos Amigos. It had a rivalry with Morro São João. Comando Vermelho controlled that area. In October 2009, Comando Vermelho invaded. A military police helicopter was shot down by drug traffickers.
In November 2009, the 13th Pacifying Police Unit was inaugurated. Brazilian newspapers reported that violence decreased. The favela started its formalization. Martinho da Vila returned to the Morro do Macaco in 2012. He had been away for over ten years. Despite this, armed conflicts still occurred. These included the death of a residents’ association ex-president.
Armed conflicts returned to the Morro do Macaco. In March 2021, a confrontation with police left five dead. Police claimed they only returned fire. Residents stated that at least two of the dead had no connection to drug trafficking. The Terceiro Comando Puro took control of the Morro do Macaco. In May 2022, a major armed conflict occurred with Comando Vermelho. It lasted at least eight days. In June 2023, Comando Vermelho attempted another attack. In June 2024, Comando Vermelho attacked the Complexo do Chapadão. They also attacked various communities in Jacarepaguá and Morro dos Macacos.
Today, Morro do Macaco stands as a testament to resilience. It shows the ongoing struggles and triumphs of its community. It’s a place of history, culture, and constant change. It’s a reminder that every corner of Rio tells a story.