Braga, Braguil, or Bragasil: Brazilian Heritage in Braga – A Case of (Over)Visibility?

Abstract: Since its independence in 1822, Brazil has been one of the main countries of origin for immigrants in Portugal. This phenomenon has intensified in recent years, and the city of Braga, in the northwest of the country, has witnessed a significant growth of the Brazilian community. Officially, this community represents approximately 8% of the local population and around 61% of the city’s immigrant population. This increase has contributed to greater visibility of Brazilian cultural manifestations in Braga’s public space. This study examined the historical relationship between Braga and Brazil, focusing on Brazilian-influenced cultural heritage—both tangible and intangible—present in the city, including events such as Carnival, the Solstice Celebrations (Festa Junina), Brazil Day (which celebrates the country’s independence from the former Portuguese Empire), and the introduction of devotion to Brazil’s patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida. The research methodology was based on a literature review, media analysis, and ethnographic fieldwork, including non-participant observation and interviews. The inclusion criterion was initiatives sanctioned and/or promoted by the municipality. The data were analysed through the lens of critical heritage studies, considering concepts such as belonging, politics of belonging, postcolonial hybridity, intercultural-artistic exchange, and cultural participation and engagement. The objective was to analyse the historical impact of Braga–Brazil relations, how Brazilian cultural expressions contribute to the local heritage, and how the growing visibility of this community is perceived within Braga’s cultural landscape, leading some media outlets and sectors of civil society to nickname the city “Little Brazil.”

Reference: Simões, C. (2025). Braga, Braguil ou Bragasil: Património brasileiro em Braga – Um caso de (sobre)visibilidade? In A. Suisse, A. M. L. Andrade, E. M. R. Oliveira, & R. A. Grácio (Orgs.), Perpetuum mobile: Trânsitos literários, culturais e linguísticos (pp. 63–79). Grácio Editor. ISBN 978-989-36023-5-5