“Joy Bangla” is an expression of pride and resistance that has echoed for decades as a cry for freedom in Bangladesh. The term was first used by the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in his poem “Purna Abhinandan” in the context of the struggle against British colonial rule. Over time, “Joy Bangla” has become an expression of Bengali nationalism, a unifying cry that inspired the nation in its quest for independence.
The term is reappropriated here to celebrate the vitality and presence of the Bangladeshi community as an integral part of Lisbon’s multicultural fabric. Intendente is today a meeting point for cultures, and Bangladeshis have become a strong and striking presence in this ever-changing neighbourhood.
More than just a documentary record, this exhibition offers a look of proximity and respect, revealing the multiple layers of belonging, work and dreams that coexist in this part of the city. «Joy Bangla» is an invitation to enter a universe of faces, gestures and spaces that make up the daily life of this diaspora community, so often marginalized.
This body of work started in the “Photographic Narratives in Intendente” workshop, conducted by Pauliana Valente Pimentel and promoted by Casa Independente.