Hassan Massoud - Al Jazeera.net
27/3/2021
Ships that carried migrants to the port of Santos in Brazil (Al Jazeera - Archive)
Mr. Muhammad Al-Saifi did not know when he boarded the ship in 1956 towards a new world, that his journey would extend all these years. This young man from the western Bekaa in Lebanon, who was 17 years old at the time, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who had immigrated before him to Brazil in 1912. To work in railway construction there.
Al-Saifi tells Al-Jazeera Net how he spent 25 days on board an Argentine ship with the aim of emigrating, just as many young men his age did during that period. He says, “I felt alienated after my arrival. Everything was different, and I did not imagine that I would remain in this country for all this time.” years, and to reach what I have achieved.”
Muhammad Al-Saifi... a businessman who arrived in Brazil in 1956 by sea (Al-Jazeera)
He added, "My father had a textile factory. I worked with him for a while, but I chose to work like the rest of the Arabs at the time, as a clothing merchant with a bag. I carried my bag and walked around the houses, knocking on doors and marketing my goods. It was tiring work." But this is what many Arab immigrants to Brazil did by the end of the year. In the 19th century, they reached the highest positions, and recorded their successes mainly in trade, as well as in various fields.
With the Discovery of Brazil
The Brazilian historian of Arab origins, Roberto Qutlab, says that the Arabs arrived in Brazil since the first years of its discovery. In his interview with Al Jazeera Net, he points out that “historians mentioned the names of Arabs who were on board the voyages of the Portuguese sailor Pedro Alvares Cabral, who arrived in Brazil in 1500.”
Qatlab confirms that “historians mention that in the 17th century, the Arabic language was spoken in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and other areas, by African slaves or those coming from Muslim areas. In the 18th century, the arrival of some Arabs to Brazilian areas was recorded.”
Dr. Roberto Katalab, a Brazilian historian of Arab origin (Al Jazeera)
All of this was before Brazil's official independence, but the country gained independence in 1822, and with the arrival of the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II in the 19th century, a different phase began in the relationship with the Arabs. Regarding this, the historian Qutlab says, "Emperor Dom Pedro II was interested in learning the Arabic language, reading and writing, and he began translating the novel One Thousand and One Nights into Portuguese, because he loved learning the languages spoken in his country, and Arabic was one of them."
However, the biggest move that encouraged Arab immigration officially and on a large scale to Brazil was the Emperor’s trip to the Arab countries. Regarding this, Dr. Qutlab says that “Emperor Dom Pedro II visited Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria between the years 1871 and 1877 with the aim of getting to know the Arab culture and the people of the region, and opening the door to the large-scale immigration of Arabs to Brazil, who have become a community numbering in the millions today in Brazil.”
Arab Quarter.. "25 of March"
After the Emperor's visit, ships began transporting Arabs on long trips to Brazil, specifically to the famous port of Santos on the coast of Sao Paulo State, and in the center of Sao Paulo, the capital, most of the Arabs who were skilled in trade settled, and from the bag trade, they began establishing their stores in the neighborhood adjacent to "March 25" Street.
By coincidence, "March 25" symbolized the anniversary of the signing of the first Brazilian constitution in 1824, and the place transformed over the years into what is known today as the largest commercial district in the entire continent of Latin America, and it became popular to call it "the Arab Quarter", due to their great influence on it.
This great influence also prompted the Brazilian Parliament in 2008 to choose the same date, March 25, as a Brazilian national day for the Arab community, to celebrate its presence and achievements, which Brazil and the community celebrate at various levels every year, and dozens of streets in the place were renamed after prominent Arab figures in Brazilian society.
Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, who opened Brazil to Arab immigration in the 19th century (Al Jazeera - Archive)
Widespread influence in society
The influence of the children of Arab immigrants is not limited to trade only, but in various fields you must find a successful Arab name. Immigrants have proven their excellence in the field of medicine, establishing a number of hospitals, most notably the "Syrian-Lebanese Hospital", a pioneer in medicine in Brazil and the entire Latin continent. Arabs have also established Arab sports clubs such as the Syrian Football Club, Mount Lebanon Club, and others.
The success of Arabs in Brazil has reached the point of holding various positions in politics such as mayors, state governors, members of parliament, ministers, parliament speakers, and vice presidents of the republic, until President Michel Temer was able to assume the presidency in 2016, after the overthrow of former President Dilma Rousseff through parliament.
In all these fields and more, Arab immigrants have excelled, presenting a model of immigrants' ability to integrate into new countries with a real impact and providing endless models and success stories.
For more.. watch the special Al Jazeera report I prepared on the subject on 03-26-2024
Source: Al Jazeera
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