Sankofa is a Ghanaian word meaning 'we must look back and reclaim our past so we can move forward, only like this can we understand why and how we came to be the way we are today.' The Museu Sankofa Rocinha - Memória e História (Sankofa Museum Rocinha - Memory and History) is the embodiment of moving memory in the community of Rocinha.

The museum promotes interaction between residents, encouraging reflection on histories, shared experiences and affinities, gathering together a pool of knowledge about the history and culture of the favela through the perspective of its inhabitants.