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Although certain details of the ceremony have been embellished by legend, its role as a catalyst for the revolution is unanimously recognized by historians. As Laurent Dubois points out in Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution( 2004), this Haitian victory had an immense impact, inspiring black populations( and even Latin Americans with Bolivarianism) throughout the American continent in their quest for freedom.
Candomblé and Quilombos in Brazil: Bastions of Freedom and Culture
In Brazil, equally significant forms of resistance emerged with the creation of quilombos, autonomous communities founded by escaped slaves. These quilombos became veritable bastions of freedom and resistance to colonial oppression. The most famous of these, Palmares( 1605-1694), maintained its independence for almost a century in the face of constant attacks from Portuguese colonists. These societies, often structured around African religious practices such as candomblé, not only resisted militarily, but also preserved and developed crucial elements of their culture. Candomblé, in particular, became a powerful mechanism of cultural resistance and identity. It enabled Afro-Brazilians to preserve their ethnic heritage, languages, music and rituals in the face of domination by white, Christian society. João José Reis, in his Slave Rebellion in Brazil: The Muslim Uprising of 1835 in Bahia( 1993), explores how these religious practices served as vectors of solidarity and mobilization among the slaves.
Flashmag! Edition 164 Septembre 2025
Queen Nanny and the Jamaican Maroons: A Winning Battle and a Legendary Heroine
Jamaica’ s history is marked by the fierce resistance of the Maroons, communities of freed slaves who took refuge in the Blue Mountains.
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