Martins immediately identified with the mission of Rolé dos Favelados, which matched his own belief in the importance of having favela residents themselves talk about favelas, and the use of the word “activism” over “tourism.” Martins notes that external agencies are “selling poverty” and aren’t invested in positive change coming to favelas. Martins explains how he got to know Felippsen through a newly formed Association of Favela Tour Guides, which was founded in the wake of the death of a Spanish woman who was killed by police in Rocinha while on a (not locally run) favela tour.
For me it is a question of bringing people to the favelas because I’m from a favela and the favelas need to be heard.” Felippsen’s comments set the scene for a very different kind of favela tour: far from the controversial, externally run ‘jeep tours,’ his tour model is one that values the voices of residents, states its purpose as activism, and puts the focus on meaningful dialogue and sharing the strengths and struggles of favelas around Rio de Janeiro.įelippsen, Providência resident and founder of Rolé dos Favelados, has partnered today with Rocinha local guide and activist Erik Martins. Cosme Felippsen, co-guide for the Rolé dos Favelados (Stroll of the Favelados) last weekend in Rocinha, starts his tour by telling the group: “I don’t like the word tourism.
