MUNDURUCU
Enslaved Africans in Brazil were people taken from many African communities, and their descendants, forced to live and work under slavery. They brought different languages, skills and traditions with them.
Some portraits show facial or bodily markings made before enslavement. Tattoos and scars could express beauty or belonging within someone's community of origin. They were very different from brands imposed by traders or owners to mark people as property.
Hair, clothing, jewellery and music offered other ways to carry cultural knowledge. The conditions were harsh, but people were more than the labour demanded of them. Musicians and dancers in the images give a glimpse of lives beyond the scenes of punishment.
The Atlantic crossing and slavery separated families and caused immense suffering. Looking closely at the people represented here means recognising their skills and individuality as well as the violence imposed on them.