Francisco Félix de Souza (5 October 1754 – 8 May 1849) was a Brazilian slave trader who was deeply influential in the regional politics of pre-colonial West Africa (namely, current-day Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo). He founded Afro-Brazilian communities in areas that are now part of those countries, and went on to become the "chachá" of Ouidah (the slave trading hub for the region), a title that conferred no official powers but commanded local respect in the Kingdom of Dahomey, where, after being jailed by King Adandozan of Dahomey, he helped Ghezo ascend the throne in a coup d'état. He became chacha to the new king, a curious phrase that has been explained as originating from his saying "(...) já, já.", a Portuguese phrase meaning something will be done right away.
His early years in Africa are well documented in a long article (in Portuguese) by Alberto Costa e Silva entitled "The Early Years of Francisco Féliz de Souza on the Slave Coast".[1]
Francisco Félix de Souza was a major slave trader and merchant who traded in palm oil, gold and slaves. He migrated from Brazil to what is now the African republic of Benin.[2][3] He has been called "the greatest slave trader".[4]
Trading slaves from what was then the Dahomey region, he was known for his extravagance and was reputed to have had at least 80 children with women in his harem.[5] De Souza continued to market slaves after the trade was abolished in most jurisdictions.[4] He was apparently so trusted by the locals in Dahomey that he was awarded the status of a chieftain."[6] Although a Catholic, he practiced the Vodun religion, and had his own family shrine.[6] He was buried in Dahomey.[6]
Family and legacyedit
De Souza is regarded as the "father" of the city of Ouidah. The city has a statue of De Souza, a plaza named after De Souza, and a museum dedicated to the De Souza family.[7]
According to Edna Bay, De Souza was "deeply influential as an intermediary between European and African cultures".[8] Today he is known as a founding patriarch of the Afro-Brazilian communities in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The de Souza family has been very instrumental in fighting for the independence of Togo, Ghana, Nigeria and Benin. Figures like Paul-Emile de Souza, a president of Benin, and Chantal de Souza Boni Yayi, a former first lady of Benin, typify the class.
According to the de Souza family, Francisco Félix de Souza was the eighth generation descendant of Tomé de Souza (1503–1579), a Portuguese nobleman who was the first governor-general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549 to 1553.[9] If true, it would make the contemporary de Souzas members of the Portuguese nobility in addition to being an African chieftaincy family.
^Ana Lucia Araujo, "Forgetting and Remembering the Atlantic Slave Trade: The Legacy of Brazilian Slave Merchant Francisco Félix de Souza," Crossing Memories: Slavery and African Diaspora, ed. Ana Lucia Araujo, Mariana P. Candido, Paul E. Lovejoy (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2011), 79-103.
francisco, félix, sousa, francisco, félix, souza, october, 1754, 1849, brazilian, slave, trader, deeply, influential, regional, politics, colonial, west, africa, namely, current, nigeria, benin, ghana, togo, founded, afro, brazilian, communities, areas, that, . Francisco Felix de Souza 5 October 1754 8 May 1849 was a Brazilian slave trader who was deeply influential in the regional politics of pre colonial West Africa namely current day Nigeria Benin Ghana and Togo He founded Afro Brazilian communities in areas that are now part of those countries and went on to become the chacha of Ouidah the slave trading hub for the region a title that conferred no official powers but commanded local respect in the Kingdom of Dahomey where after being jailed by King Adandozan of Dahomey he helped Ghezo ascend the throne in a coup d etat He became chacha to the new king a curious phrase that has been explained as originating from his saying ja ja a Portuguese phrase meaning something will be done right away Francisco Felix de SousaBorn 1754 10 04 4 October 1754Salvador Bahia Colonial BrazilDied8 May 1849 1849 05 08 aged 94 Ouidah Kingdom of Dahomey present day Republic of Benin His early years in Africa are well documented in a long article in Portuguese by Alberto Costa e Silva entitled The Early Years of Francisco Feliz de Souza on the Slave Coast 1 Francisco Felix de Souza was a major slave trader and merchant who traded in palm oil gold and slaves He migrated from Brazil to what is now the African republic of Benin 2 3 He has been called the greatest slave trader 4 Trading slaves from what was then the Dahomey region he was known for his extravagance and was reputed to have had at least 80 children with women in his harem 5 De Souza continued to market slaves after the trade was abolished in most jurisdictions 4 He was apparently so trusted by the locals in Dahomey that he was awarded the status of a chieftain 6 Although a Catholic he practiced the Vodun religion and had his own family shrine 6 He was buried in Dahomey 6 Family and legacy editDe Souza is regarded as the father of the city of Ouidah The city has a statue of De Souza a plaza named after De Souza and a museum dedicated to the De Souza family 7 According to Edna Bay De Souza was deeply influential as an intermediary between European and African cultures 8 Today he is known as a founding patriarch of the Afro Brazilian communities in Ghana Togo Benin and Nigeria The de Souza family has been very instrumental in fighting for the independence of Togo Ghana Nigeria and Benin Figures like Paul Emile de Souza a president of Benin and Chantal de Souza Boni Yayi a former first lady of Benin typify the class According to the de Souza family Francisco Felix de Souza was the eighth generation descendant of Tome de Souza 1503 1579 a Portuguese nobleman who was the first governor general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549 to 1553 9 If true it would make the contemporary de Souzas members of the Portuguese nobility in addition to being an African chieftaincy family The protagonist of Bruce Chatwin s novel The Viceroy of Ouidah is said to be based upon the life of Francisco Felix de Souza References edit Africa Revista do Centro de Estudos Africanos USP S Paulo 22 23 9 23 1999 2000 2001 David Ross The First Chacha of Whydah Francisco Felix de Souza 1969 Alberto da Costa e Silva Francisco Felix de Souza mercador de escravos 2004 a b Ramer Richard C February 2008 Bulletin60PartXIX Richard C Ramer Old amp Rare Books archived from the original on 2008 08 21 retrieved 2008 08 26 Thomas 2006 p 695 a b c Jose C Curto Africa and The Americas Interconnections During The Slave Trade 2005 p 235 Sieff Kevin 2018 01 29 An African country reckons with its history of selling slaves Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2018 03 07 Bay 2008 p 68 Ana Lucia Araujo Forgetting and Remembering the Atlantic Slave Trade The Legacy of Brazilian Slave Merchant Francisco Felix de Souza Crossing Memories Slavery and African Diaspora ed Ana Lucia Araujo Mariana P Candido Paul E Lovejoy Trenton NJ Africa World Press 2011 79 103 GeneralBay Edna 2008 Asen Ancestors and Vodun Urbana Illinois University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0 252 03255 4 OCLC 128237066 Thomas Hugh 2006 The Slave Trade 4th ed London Phoenix ISBN 0 7538 2056 0 OCLC 62133159 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francisco Felix de Sousa amp oldid 1211644200, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
