Groupo Cultural AfroReggae (GCAR) was formed in 1993 out of a desire to counteract the violent drug industry and police oppression prevalent within the slums of Rio de Janeiro. By affording local youths the chance to strengthen their citizenship through cultural and artistic education, GCAR hopes to offer a viable path away from entanglement in the drug trade. Their work includes providing professional training in music, dance, theatre and computing to favela residents, mediating between rival drug factions and establishing cultural centres in the favelas.

GCAR has formed a partnership with UK-based NGO RadioActive and BBC Producer Izzy Fairbairn to start an exciting new project:

AfroReggaeDigital is an online community radio station, exposing new Brasilian music and promoting the message of AfroReggae to a global audience. AfroReggaeDigital is also school for radio and web-based multimedia, offering free courses to local community residents.  The station ehoused in AfroReggae’s cultural centre in the favela of Parada de Lucas. 

The aims of the station are:

1. To provide training courses in radio production, journalism and web-based multimedia
2. To give community residents a voice and a means to express themselves to a global audience
3. To provide a platform for community residents to discuss their issues and bridge the gap between different communities under the control of opposing drug gangs
4. To promote human rights awareness
5. To promote the message and work of AfroReggae to the global community
6. To forge links between community residents, AfroReggae and potential partners worldwide
7. To encourage ongoing relationships between the community and other parts of the world through an international volunteer program

Initial funding and publicity for the project came from two ‘Favela Feva’ events organised by Izzy Fairbairn and RadioActive in central London, which saw international artists such as DJ Marky and 4 Hero play for free. The funds raised from these events has covered the station build and first six months of running costs. 

With the help of Ritchie Nicola, Telmo and local carpenters Wagnon and Renato, the studio was completed in early April 2007. Mark Benewith from Hijack Bristol also joined us for a month to install the computer network and build the AfroReggaeDigital website.

The School for Radio and Multimedia opened in mid-April, with groups of students aged 13-45 learning to write, produce and record their first jingles for the station. A complete training course at the station will take 6 months, covering topics such as producing and presenting a music show, making a radio documentary, writing and producing a radio drama, digital audio editing, studio setup and maintenance, building an online page, and producing photos and video for the website.

The online station and website will provide a medium for the students to immediately apply the skills they have learnt in class.  The station will showcase the wealth of talent from across the AfroReggae family, as well providing a platform local and international artists.