mangueira is home to the estação primeira de mangueira samba school, one of the most famous samba schools in rio.  many times winner of the yearly carnival parades competition, this school hosts some of the most widely attended samba rehearsal sessions throughout the year.

this favela was home to nelson cavaquinho and angenor de oliveira (also known as cartola) one of the founders of the samba school, and one of the most important samba composers of rio and brazil. 

named in cartola's memory, the important cultural center cartola is located in mangueira and dedicated to the music, the arts, and social integration through them.