When Tshephiso Marumo graduated with honors from a university in Botswana, few imagined she would soon be knocking on doors to sell roasted corn. In a country where such work is often dismissed as something for the poor, not for an ambitious graduate who once dreamed of becoming a journalist, her decision drew sharp criticism. A former professor even mockingly nicknamed her “Mmammidi,” meaning “Corn Lady” in Setswana. Ms. Marumo, now 33, ignored the ridicule. What began as d

Well before sunrise, the square in Rio de Janeiro’s historic center began to fill. Some revelers arrived in neon fishnets and glitter, while others who had partied through the night stretched out on the grass for a brief rest. Musicians trickled in last, hauling drums and trumpets as the sky lightened over the city. It was carnival Sunday, and the gathering marked the start of Boi Tolo, a roaming, unscripted block party that sweeps through Rio like a marathon. There is no fi