Zumbi dos Palmares (1655-1695) was the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares and also the one with the greatest historical relevance.
Zumbi gained respect and admiration from his quilombola compatriots due to his skills as a warrior, which gave him courage, leadership and knowledge of military strategy.
He fought for freedom of worship and religion, as well as for the end of colonial slavery in Brazil. Despite this, this leader was also known for the despotic severity with which he led Palmares, where there was even a milder type of slavery.
In any case, he did not admit the domination of whites over blacks and, therefore, he became the greatest symbol for black freedom in Brazilian history.
Biography of Zumbi dos Palmares
Zumbi was the nephew of the leader Ganga Zumba, who, in turn, was the son of Princess Aqualtune of the Jagas (or Imbangalas), a people of military traditions with excellent warriors.
There is little data on his personal life, but it is known that he was married to Dandara, who fought alongside him.
Zumbi was born approximately in 1655, in Quilombo dos Palmares, Captaincy of Pernambuco, region of Serra da Barriga. Today, the location is União dos Palmares, in the Brazilian state of Alagoas.
Zumbi was imprisoned by Brás da Rocha Cardoso's expedition and handed over to Father Antônio Melo, in Porto Calvo, when he was about six years old.
He was then baptized with the name “Francisco” and received a painstaking education. He learned Portuguese and Latin, in addition to the catechism to be baptized in the Catholic faith.
At 10 years old, he was already fluent in Portuguese and Latin. At 15, he fled and returned to Quilombo de Palmares.
A few years later, in 1675, Zumbi gained notoriety by defending the quilombo from the attack of Portuguese troops. In this bloody battle, he demonstrated his skills as a jaga warrior.
At the age of 25, Zumbi challenges his uncle. In 1680, he takes the place of Denim Zumba as leader of Palmares (according to scholars, Ganga Zumba would have been murdered).
His attitude towards the colonial government is one of challenge and confrontation. Thus, the Portuguese leaders contracted the services of the pioneers Domingos Jorge Velho and Bernardo Vieira de Melo.
In 1694, they lead the attack that will destroy the 'Cerca do Macaco', capital of Palmares. They destroyed it completely and wounded its leader, Zombie, who managed to escape.
Learn more about Quilombo dos Palmares.
Curiosity
The word “Zumbi” or “Zambi”, the name adopted by the hero, is of origin 'quimbunda', and alludes to spiritual beings, such as ghosts, specters and goblins.
Death of Zumbi dos Palmares
In 1695, on the day November 20th, Zumbi is betrayed by one of his captains, Antônio Soares, and killed by captain Furtado de Mendonça. The leader of Palmares was 40 years old.
After defeating and killing Zumbi, the captain was awarded fifty thousand reis by monarch D. Pedro II of Portugal.
His head was cut off, salted and taken to Governor Melo e Castro. It was exhibited in a public square in order to put an end to the myth of the immortality of Zumbi dos Palmares.
His death date, November 20, was adopted as Black Consciousness Day.
Understand everything about the slavery in Brazil.
Tributes to Zumbi dos Palmares
The importance of Zumbi dos Palmares is so great for the black movement that today his name is the name of a College: the Zumbi dos Palmares College-FAZP-in São Paulo.
In addition, Maceio/AL International Airport, opened in 2005, bears his name.
The Vila Isabel samba school paid homage to Zumbi dos Palmares in 1998 with the plot "Kizomba, festa da race". That's how she got her first title with the theme.
Want to know more? There are more texts here:
- Black conscience day
- Origin of Black Consciousness Day
- Brazilian black personalities
