The José Bonifácio Municipal Cultural Center operates as the headquarters of the Afro-Brazilian Cultural Reference Center, the only one of its kind in Latin America. It was built as a tribute to José Bonifácio, who is known as the “Patriarch of Independence” for being an important figure in Brazilian Independence.
The heritage, renaissance building was built in 1877 to house one of the city’s first public schools, which was ordered by Dom Pedro II.
In 1994, the building underwent a significant renovation in order to house the Municipal Center. African-inspired sculptures we installed and various units in the downtown area were renamed in honor of emblematic Afro-Brazilian figures such as Abdias do Nascimento, Ruth de Souza, Grande Othelo, Heitor dos Prazeres, and Tia Ciata.