Hajj Muhammad al-Saifi did not know when he boarded the ship in 1956 towards a new world that his journey would extend for all these years .. That young man, who was 17-year-old son of Western Bekaa in Lebanon at the time, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who had migrated before him to Brazil in 1912. To work in the construction of the railways there.

Al Saifi tells Al-Jazeera Net how he spent 25 days on an Argentine ship with the aim of emigrating exactly, as many young men his age did during that period. He says, “I felt alienated after my arrival, everything was different, and I did not imagine that I would stay in this country all of these. Years, and to reach what I have reached. "

"My father had a textile factory, I worked with him for a while, but I chose to work like the rest of the Arabs at that time as a clothes dealer in the bag. I carry my bag and go around the houses, knock on the doors and market my goods. It was a tiring job," he added. The nineteenth century, and from there they reached the highest positions, and recorded their successes mainly in trade, as well as in various fields.

Muhammad al-Saifi ... a businessman who arrived in Brazil in 1956 by sea (Al-Jazeera)

With the discovery of Brazil

The Brazilian historian of Arab origins, "Roberto Kotlib," says that the Arabs arrived in Brazil since the first years of its discovery.

In his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, he notes that "historians have mentioned the names of Arab people who were on board the voyages of the Portuguese sailor Pedro Alvares Cabral, who arrived in Brazil in 1500."

"Historians say that in the 17th century, the Arabic language was spoken in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and other regions, by African slaves or coming from Muslim regions, and in the 18th century it was recorded that some Arabs came to Brazilian regions."

Dr. Roberto Qutlib, a Brazilian historian of Arab descent (Al-Jazeera)

All of this was before the official independence of Brazil, but the country that became independent in 1822, and with the arrival of the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II in the nineteenth century, a different stage in the relationship with the Arabs began. And writing, and proceeded to translate the novel One Thousand and One Nights into Portuguese, because he loved learning the languages ​​spoken in his country, and Arabic was one of them.

However, the biggest move encouraging Arab immigration in an official and large way to Brazil was the emperor’s trip to the Arab countries, and about this, Dr. Qutalib says that “Emperor Dom Pedro II visited Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria between the years 1871 and 1877 with the aim of getting acquainted with the Arab culture and the peoples of the region, He opened the door to the massive immigration of Arabs to Brazil, who have become a community that now numbers millions in Brazil. "

The Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, who conquered Brazil to the immigration of Arabs in the 19th century (Al-Jazeera - Archive)

Arab neighborhood .. March 25

After the emperor’s visit, the ships began carrying Arabs on long trips to Brazil, specifically to the famous port city of Santos on the coasts of the state of São Paulo, and in central São Paulo, the capital. March".

Incidentally, "March 25" symbolizes the anniversary of the signing of the first Brazilian constitution in 1824, and the place has transformed over the years to what is known today as the largest commercial district in the entire Latin American continent, and it was called "the Arab neighborhood", due to their great influence on it.

This great influence also prompted the Brazilian Parliament in 2008 to choose the same date, 25 March, as the Brazilian National Day for the Arab community, to celebrate its presence and achievements. Brazil and the community at various levels greet it every year, and dozens of streets in the place have been renamed with the names of prominent Arab personalities. In Brazilian society.

Wide influence in society

The influence of the children of Arab immigrants does not stop only on trade. In various fields, you must find a successful Arab name. The immigrants have proven their distinction in the fields of medicine, establishing a number of hospitals, most notably the "Syrian Lebanese Hospital", the pioneer in medicine at the level of Brazil and the entire Latin continent. The Arabs also founded Arab sports clubs such as the Syrian Football Club, the Mount Lebanon Club, and others.

The success of the Arabs in Brazil reached various positions in politics, such as mayors, governors of states, members of parliament, ministers, heads of parliament, and deputy presidents of the republic, until President Michel Tamer was able to assume the presidency in 2016, after former President Dilma Rousseff was overthrown through Parliament.

All these areas, and more, in which Arab immigrants have emerged, in order to provide a model in the ability of immigrants to integrate into new countries with an actual impact on them and to provide models and endless success stories.