Margem Sul

Margem Sul explores Portugal's past in a changing present. Documenting diaspora communities facing gentrification, it amplifies voices for social justice in the middle of forced demolitions.

The Margem Sul project stems from a need to understand the current social and political situation in Portugal. As a formerly colonizing country under Salazar's dictatorship, the question I sought to answer through this work is: What remains today as a witness to this past history?

I ventured into what is called the "Southern Margin," across the Tagus River from Lisbon. Barreiro, Almada, Moita, and Trafaria constitute this geographical area, where I conducted the documentary work featured in my project. Specifically, I focused on a neighborhood often referred to as a shantytown, named Segundo Torrão (2nd Torrão).

Within this place, a struggle has emerged, one that is observable in many peripheries of Portuguese cities. Portugal, with a deeply patriotic view of national history, still harbors significant systemic racism. My project precisely addresses the challenges faced regarding on-site housing conditions. 2o Torrao used to be a fishing village before the Carnation Revolution in 1974. Following that, diasporas from Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tomé and Principe gradually settled in these shacks by the river. Today, the different communities blend together to form a single, supportive community.

During my journey, I had the opportunity to meet various individuals active in these places, most of whom come from the rap scene. Through their music, they narrate how the Trafaria neighborhood is grappling with gentrification and convey their sense of being overlooked by society. Under the guise of security reasons, the State remains vague about the exact reasons for the on-site demolitions of homes.

Since the end of 2022, homes have been and will continue to be demolished on the ground, forcing its residents to be evicted. Official information suggests that residents will have until 2025 to leave the area. The State plans to build a bridge connecting Lisbon to Trafaria, a bridge that will completely overlap with the Segundo Torrão neighborhood and replace it.

Through my documentary work, ranging from exploration to the presentation of evident situations, I advocate for their cause and attempt to amplify the voices of the actors present in these locations.