Africain, esclave et roi Ignacio Monte et sa cour à Rio de Janeiro au XVIIIe siècle

Abstract

The article traces the biography of Monte Ignacio, an African slave coming from the "land of Mahi", West Africa, presently Benin. Dealing with eighteenth century ecclesiastical documentation from the city of Rio de Janeiro the paper shows how an African adult slave rebuilt his life in captivity. He was a barber and bleeder, bought his freedom, and was elected the "King of Mahi" in Rio de Janeiro in 1762. His biography goes beyond his life story and shows the coexistence of an entire community whose identity was built based on their African past.

Keywords

• Brazil
• 18th century
• biography
• slavery
• West Africa
• ethnic identity