Between Slaves and Rammed Earth: The African Way of Building in The Architecture of São Paulo

Abstract

This article aims to evaluate the important collaboration of African labor and culture in the construction of land in the architecture of São Paulo between the 18th and 19th centuries. The proposal is more relevant because it has not yet received the due attention of the researchers of the area, who, in most cases, have highlighted the unique role of the Paulista buildings, resulting from the ethnic and cultural syncretism of Portuguese and indigenous peoples. It is true that seeking the rationale for such a proposal was a challenge, since until recently the image of the African slave was represented solely by his muscular strength, a posture that relieved him of his way of doing. Moreover, such a premise allows for hasty conclusions, such as those based on the fact that the African did not bring any collaboration to the constructive techniques of the state of São Paulo, since he only obeyed orders and had no autonomy of creation, and was therefore only able to reproduce the techniques of Other cultures. In this case, it is believed that there is a need to draw upon a wide range of historical sources, such as iconography, handwritten sources, and accounts of memorialists and travelers.

Keywords:
Cultural Patrimony Paulista; Slavery and construction on land