Claiming the City through the Cape Verdean Festivities of Kola San Jon in Lisbon: A Lefebvrian Case Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT As cities experience the effects of increasing inequalities, so social movements, scholars and even mainstream institutions are once again placing Lefebvre's notion of the “right to the city” on the agenda. This new popularity often strips the concept of its political meaning, namely by approaching Lefebvre's notion as juridical and as an aspect of a more general way of proceeding by planning, that has effects in terms of what is recognised as part of the political sphere, and of claiming the city. We aim to contribute to the debate through the discussion of a case study interested in a yearly festive event in central Lisbon. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre's lexicon for an interpretation of popular involvement with public urban life, the article starts with an account of Lisbon's Fordist socio-spatial segregation, and the neoliberal deepening of gentrification and profit-making urban regeneration. It then focuses on the Cape Verdean performative event Kola San Jon in the context of Lisbon's Festas da Cidade, and the active involvement of inhabitants of Cova da Moura, a marginalised neighbourhood which has, over the years, drawn on cultural and civic activities for reclaiming a voice in the public space.