Favela Rocinha

Favela (Portuguese pronunciation: [faˈvɛlɐ]) is the term for a shantytown in Brazil, most often within urban areas. The first favelas appeared in the late 19th century and were built by soldiers who had nowhere to live. Some of the first settlements were called bairros africanos (African neighbourhoods). This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many former black slaves moved in. In the movie Rio, Favela Rocinha is the location of the Smugglers' hideout where Fernando brings Blu and Jewel who were kidnapped from Tulio's Aviary. Later when Fernando decides to assist Tulio and Linda in finding their missing birds, he led the two back to the hideout - riding a motorcycle that he traded for Tulio's jeep truck. Unexpectedly, the birds weren't there, as Tipa and Armando had already loaded the birds onto their poorly-designed chicken float truck. Fernando offered his help by volunteering to be an additional dancer in hopes of tracking Blu and Jewel. After Fernando and the two smugglers left the building, Tulio and Linda, who had been hiding behind the crates, realized what the smugglers' scheme was, and left Favela Rocinha, heading towards Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, where the Carnival would be held and they could eventually get Blu and Jewel back.