1822, a special podcast series on Brazil’s independence bicentennial

Illustration: André Chiavassa/TBR

This September 7, Brazil will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its independence from Portugal. Riddled with family betrayals and historical inconsistencies, this period in Brazil is a truly peculiar and fascinating one, especially when compared with its Latin American neighbors.

Independence elsewhere on the continent was a story of revolutionaries and republics. In Brazil, it was the story of the emancipation of a prince from his father, and the independence of a country that didn’t yet exist.

In this special mini-series, we walk you through the eccentricities and myths of this period, its legacies in the country 200 years later, and how Brazil became Brazil.

In this first episode, the Portuguese royal family flees to Brazil, its largest colony. And the ripple effects of this decision will forever change the futures of both countries.

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Narrated by:

Caroline Coutinho is a social media journalist with experience in data analysis and video production. She has a master’s degree in journalism and international affairs from Sciences Po, Paris. Her stories mostly focus on Latin American politics, women’s rights, environmental, and societal issues.

Written and produced by:

Eric Zalcman is a student at SciencesPo. Paris and joined The Brazilian Report for an internship in July 2022.

Edited by :

Euan Marshall is the editor of The Brazilian Report. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he has been working in Brazil since 2011 as a journalist and translator. His work has been published by outlets such as The Telegraph, Jacobin, Al Jazeera, and Art Review.

This episode used music from Uppbeat. License codes: Y7XYOVQQZSFTFUMV. The soundtrack for this podcast series also includes: Evil Plan and Dark Halloway, of Kevin MacLeod (CC-YouTube Audio Library);

Background reading:

Brazil will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its independence from Portugal on September 7. But there is little enthusiasm around the date, amid fears that it may instead be marked by a pro-Bolsonaro uprising against democratic institutions.