Valongo Wharf

Abstract This article analyzes the dynamics shaping the public memory of Valongo Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site linked to the transatlantic slave trade. The article explores how intersections between local, national, and international actors—including Black movements, intellectuals, and public officials—construct the site’s narrative. The memorialization process of Valongo Wharf is a contested space, reflecting both the recognition of historically silenced Black Brazilian memories and the potential pitfalls of domesticating Black culture within dominant ideologies. While the site celebrates African heritage and cultural expressions, it fails to fully leverage the memory of slavery as a tool to prevent the recurrence of racism in new forms. The federal administration’s neglect in installing an interpretation center further contributes to limited understandings of the site’s past and present significance. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing power dynamics—who has a voice, access to resources, and control over narratives—in shaping the public memory of Valongo Wharf, thus reflecting broader issues of racial recognition in contemporary Brazil.