Mancala Awelé Festival in the São Paulo Municipal Education Network: An Afrocentric Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the IV Mancala Awelé Festival held by the São Paulo Municipal Education Network. The festival has taken place annually since 2016 and is organized by the São Paulo Municipal Department of Education. Awelé is a game of African origin that incorporates African philosophical aspects in its foundations. The IV Festival featured cultural performances that showcased African and Afro-Brazilian art through music, dance, clothing, decoration, etc. However, the way the festival’s structure and dynamics was organized did not allow students to freely experience these cultural expressions. Moreover, it fostered competition among students rather than cooperation, which is the essence of the game. Only in a space outside the official gaming area was it possible to observe students engaging freely with the game, experiencing it in a way that allowed them to feel and internalize the culture from which it originates. The purpose of this article is to provide a critical perspective on the festival’s organization based on Afrocentric theory and phenomenology. The study concludes that the current model of the Mancala Awelé Festival, organized by the São Paulo Municipal Department of Education, requires restructuring if it aims to decolonize knowledge and educational practices within the São Paulo Municipal Education Network.