Bebel DeMoura Nilo is a scholar, storyteller, and cultural heritage worker based between New York City and Brazil. Her work supports her mission of teaching and preserving the histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color throughout the Americas and making their stories accessible.
She holds a B.A. in Black Studies from The City College of New York and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University. Her work focuses on themes of identity, politics, and popular culture in the U.S. and Latin America, particularly Brazil. Bebel is a two-time Mellon fellow and was awarded a Community-Engaged Scholarship grant for her project providing professional development skills to Passinho dancers in Rio de Janeiro, and assisting them in joining a local performers union.
Bebel has served on The World in 2050’s ‘The Expert Network’ in 2025 and 2026, providing expert commentary on global politics. Her writing can be found published in Diplomatic Courier, as well as her blog. She has served as a guest lecturer at both of her alma maters and San Diego State University, sharing her work on themes of Brazilcore, racial democracy, and the relationship between music and politics in Brazil.
As she strives to bridge the gaps between cultural institutions and everyday people, Bebel offers her skills, experiences, and insights to share the stories and legacies that have been under-told and overlooked.