How to Pronounce Francisco Félix de Sousa
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Oct 04, 1754 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Died on 08 May 1849 (aged 94)
Brazilian slave trader
LibraFrancisco Félix De Sousa - Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Age, Wiki, Facts, Net Worth, Birthday, Biography and Family
Francisco Félix De Sousa, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Family, Facts, Age, Net Worth, Biography and More in FamedBorn.com
About Francisco Félix De Sousa
- Francisco Félix de Souza (4 October 1754 – 8 May 1849) was a Brazilian (born to Portuguese colonists) and a 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 Adandonzan 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. 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".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.
- He has been called, "the greatest slave trader".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.
- De Sousa continued to market slaves after the trade was abolished in most jurisdictions.
- He was apparently so trusted by the locals in Dahomey that he was awarded the status of a chieftain." Although a Catholic, he practiced the Vodun religion, which is consistent with his Afro-Brazilian background, and had his own family shrine.
- He was buried in Dahomey.
