In this episode of pplpod, we take a deep dive into the complex world of Brazil’s favelas. Often reduced to stereotypes of poverty and violence, these communities are home to over 16 million people, representing roughly 8% of the Brazilian population. We trace the origins of the favela back to the late 19th century, when soldiers returning from the War of Canudos settled on Providência Hill, naming their new home after a skin-irritating tree native to Bahia.

We explore how these settlements expanded rapidly due to rural exodus and industrialization between the 1940s and 1970s, despite government attempts at eradication. The discussion moves to the modern dynamics of power, from the rise of drug trafficking and militias to the state’s attempt to reclaim territory through Pacifying Police Units (UPPs).

Finally, we look beyond the strugg ...