Today, for Black History Month, we remember events of February 6, 1694: When the Brazilian authorities captured Dandara, warrior queen of the runaway slaves in Quilombo dos Palmares. She committed suicide to avoid being forced back into slavery. Quilombo dos Palmares was a community of Afro-Brazilian people who freed themselves from enslavement. The community survived for nearly 90 years, with up to 30,000 residents, before the government finally suppressed it in 1694. Members of the community would raid plantations, slaughter the owners and free the slaves to come join them in Palmares. They used guerilla warfare, using weapons obtained from Portuguese traders and, possibly, capoeira.
As a young girl, Dandara joined a group of Afro-Brazilians to fight against slavery in Brazil. As an adult, she helped create military strategies to protect Palmares. She played an important role in making her husband, Zumbi dos Palmares, cut ties with his uncle Ganga-Zumba, who was the first big chief of Quilombo dos Palmares. In 1678, Ganga-Zumba signed a peace treaty with the government. All those born in Palmares were to be free and given permission to engage in commerce. However, in exchange, they had to stop giving refuge to runaway slaves and collaborate with the Portuguese authorities in arresting runaways. Dandara and Zumbi opposed the deal because it did not end slavery and made Palmares complicit in its perpetuation.
The story of Zumbi, Dandara and the Quilombo do Palmares is depicted in the truly superb 1984 film “Quilombo,” directed by Carlos Diegues, with music by Gilberto Gil.