In 2021 and 2022, the Alok Institute and the Feira Preta Institute collaborated to establish two units of BLACK EMBASSY (previously known as PretaHub House). This initiative is an accelerator and incubator for Black entrepreneurship, a true hub for creativity, innovation, Black cultural trends, with infrastructure to create many digital businesses.
BLACK EMBASSY functions as a shared space and provides essential infrastructure for the digital transformation of businesses founded by Black entrepreneurs.
In Cachoeira, Bahia, the Alok Institute support facilitated the creation of a music studio equipped for recordings, podcasts, and rehearsals. One of the standout events was “Afrolab Toque que Transforma Música,” a two-month immersion program for 30 beginner musicians, offering lessons on music production, distribution, and copyright.
Fotos: Arquivo Instituto Feira Preta
In May 2024, we supported the logistics for 60 people from Cachoeira, Bahia, to participate in the Feira Preta Festival in São Paulo. The festival celebrated, strengthened, and promoted Afro-descendant cultural diversity, showcasing its richness and contributions to both Brazilian and global society.
Journey
The first BLACK EMBASSY was established in São Paulo on Avenida Nove de Julho. This facility spans 530 m² and includes six rooms, two studios, one content production studio, a pop-up kitchen, a maker space, a gallery for visual artists, a shared shop, and a library filled with books and vinyl records. This location services at least 200 people each month, supports and incubates around 30 businesses, and facilitates the creation of approximately 30 videos and podcasts monthly.
The second unit was created in Cachoeira, Bahia, in an 800 m² historical mansion in the city’s central square. This site is recognized by IPHAN (Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage) as a heritage site, embodying the legacy and ancestry of the local Black culture. The mansion features four rooms for artistic residencies, two photo and video studios, one audio studio, a library, a classroom, a shared space, and two kitchens.
Fotos: Rodrigo Portela – Terra Preta Produções / Rosângela Cordaro
About Feira Preta
Feira Preta is an accelerator for Black entrepreneurship in Brazil and a hub for creativity, innovation, and Black cultural trends. It represents the evolution of 18 years of experience behind Feira Preta, the most significant event celebrating Black culture and economy in Latin America, which celebrated its 18th edition in 2018.
