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Reflections from the Field: Researching Quilombo Communities and Food Sovereignty in Belo Horizonte

After two intensive and inspiring months, I’m now back in Germany, reflecting on my recent field research stay in Belo Horizonte – or “BH”, as it’s affectionately known in Brazil. What initially felt like a long stretch of time passed in the blink of an eye. I’m happy to share a few insights from this first phase of my doctoral research, conducted as part of the CRC 1671 “Home(s): Phenomena, Practices, Representations”.

Horta do Cabaça (UNIFESP Campus Leste). Image credit: Anne Ziegler

My PhD project, titled “Planting a Home: The Role of (Community) Gardens in Afro-Indigenous Cosmovisions, Territories, and Identity Negotiations in Quilombo Communities around Belo Horizonte, Brazil”, is part of subproject B07 of the CRC, called “Kitchen and Garden: Homemaking Practices of Latin American Activists”, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Renata Motta. The research explores the intersections between spiritual cosmovisions in Afro-Indigenous Quilombo communities and their relationships to territory – particularly through land-based practices such as gardening and cooking, as well as through spiritual and ritual practices. My focus touches on themes such as inequality, identity, human-nature relationships, and food sovereignty.
 
At the heart of the project lies an interest in how these communities express and defend their identities, territories, and worldviews in the face of structural inequality, racism, and territorial violence. Many Quilombo territories are heavily contested, and the communities face ongoing violations of their territorial rights, along with structural and everyday racism. As a result, activism around land defense is a central aspect of their daily lives and collective existence. 
 

Quilombo Mangueiras. Image credit: Anne Ziegler

For context, Quilombos first emerged as maroon communities formed by enslaved people who escaped the inhumane system of slavery in colonial Brazil. However, their histories and identities are not limited to this origin. Today, Quilombos are plural, heterogeneous communities spread across Brazil – ranging from rural regions to large urban centers like Rio de Janeiro and BH. They remain vital spaces of resistance and the preservation of Black culture, identity, and freedom. Despite constitutional protections established in 1988, Quilombola communities continue to face some of the most severe forms of violence and discrimination in Brazil. Community leaders are frequently subjected to threats, and in some cases, targeted attacks and assassinations. Meanwhile, the communities themselves experience ongoing dispossession and marginalization. Their activism – often centered on land defense and cultural preservation – remains both a powerful form of resistance and a vital pathway toward collective well-being and sovereignty.
This recent stay in BH marked the beginning of several planned field visits over the course of the four-year research project. As our project only began in October 2024, this first trip served as an exploratory phase  reconnecting with and expanding local networks, getting to know key actors, and deepening my understanding of the context. As I had already collaborated with some of the communities in the past, I was fortunate to build on those relationships while also opening up new conversations.

Quilombo Mangueiras. Image credit: Anne Ziegler

During this visit, I conducted background conversations with activists, spiritual leaders, and coordinators of Quilombo communities, as well as with researchers, NGO staff, and members of the municipal administration. I visited several communities, participated in political meetings and activist-led educational sessions, and explored community gardens, where I learned on-site about the plants and their uses. I also had the opportunity to take part in Afro-Brazilian religious events, particularly within the Candomblé tradition, which offered profound insights into the spiritual dimensions of territory, care, and resistance.
A central goal of this visit was to initiate dialogue with community members about how academic research can be meaningful and relevant to them. We have begun exploring how to shape the project in ways that are mutually beneficial, collaborative and grounded in local perspectives, needs, and knowledges. 
 
Another important aim was to strengthen academic connections and explore opportunities for future collaboration with local scholars and institutions. At this stage, our project is not yet formally affiliated with a specific institution at the UFMG (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), but we are in the process of building stronger ties and exploring possibilities for institutional collaboration in the future. Establishing these relationships will be crucial for the long-term development of the project, especially as we aim to create more solid academic and community-based partnerships on the ground.
 
I return from this first field stay with a suitcase full of literature and a heart full of gratitude for the trust, conversations, and generosity I experienced. I look forward to continuing this research, returning to BH soon, and growing these collaborations over the coming year Beyond the academic work, this time was also personally enriching—filled with new friendships, delicious food, and many unforgettable experiences.
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Anne Ziegler is a doctoral researcher in the Collaborative Research Center 1671 Home(s): Phenomena, Practices, Representations (2024-2036).

OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
anneziegler (April 22, 2025). Reflections from the Field: Researching Quilombo Communities and Food Sovereignty in Belo Horizonte. HCIAS Blog. Retrieved November 8, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/13s7r