London youth charity Kinetika Bloco has drawn inspiration from the Brazilian documentary Favela Rising for over two decades. The film, released in 2004, documents the story of Anderson Sá, a former drug trafficker who founded the AfroReggae movement to offer young people an alternative to crime and drugs in Rio's slums.
Kinetika Bloco's founder, Mat Fox, was inspired by Brazilian blocos, carnival-style street parties, and suggested the film to a new employee a year after they joined. The documentary's portrayal of music as a healing force and a path out of difficult circumstances resonated deeply, becoming integral to Kinetika Bloco's ethos.
The organisation, which began as a summer school, now runs holiday programmes, workshops, and after-school clubs across London. It operates from the Southbank Centre and has developed a leadership programme, with many current leaders having been participants themselves. Among Kinetika Bloco's alumni are Femi and Ife from Ezra Collective, who met at the charity as teenagers.
Kinetika Bloco has performed across the UK and taken young people to New Orleans and Cape Town. The charity also performed with AfroReggae during a London visit, with the Brazilian group reportedly unaware of the inspiration they had provided.