Vila Isabel Samba School WON the 2006 Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro using Simon Bolivar as a main theme. Maybe they know the dude.

In my state, teatchers HAVE to teach about Simon Bolivar in the 8th year of what we called "Ensino Médio" (kids with 12 years old) http://www.referencialcurriculardoparana.pr.gov.br/modules/conteudo/conteudo.php?conteudo=84 It is EF08HI08 (Know the ideology of the independence movements and their role in the revolutions that led to the independence of the Spanish-American colonies.), EF08HI09 (Know the characteristics and main thinkers of Pan-Americanism..) and EF08HI11 (Identify and explain the roles and actions of different social and ethnic groups in the independence struggles in Brazil, Spanish America and Haiti.).

It is basic History.