The Muslim Slave Revolt in Bahia, Brazil

The Milli Gazette

By Firas Al-Khateeb




From the 1500s through the 1800s, European nations were engaged in a tragic and barbaric practice known as the slave trade. During this period, over 12 million Africans were kidnapped or bought in Africa, boarded onto ships and taken to North and South America to work as slaves. The legacy of this inhuman treatment lives on today, in the form of racism and economic disadvantage for blacks in the Americas, and disunity and wars in Africa. One aspect of slavery that has been overlooked in historical studies is the impact of slave revolts in the New World. Needless to say, the African slaves did not go willingly to their new lives. In many cases, they fought back against their masters, refusing to accept the life they’d been thrown into. One of the most notable (and successful) of these rebellions was the Bahia Revolt, which took place in 1835 in Brazil. This revolt, unlike some others, was planned and led entirely by Muslims. The story of how they were able to plan a revolt in such horrid conditions and have such a large impact is remarkable. The most interesting and defining factor of the revolt was its Islamic character.


Bahia Revolt
Date: January 1835; Location: Salvador, Bahia; Result: Legalist victory, repelled rebellion.
Strength: unknown, at least 3 battalion of guards, 600 insurgents; casualties; losses: 7 dead soldiers; 80 dead; 300 captured rebels.


Background: Brazil was originally a Portuguese colony, up until 1822 when it gained its independence. Regardless of the government, however, the slave trade went on from the earliest Portuguese settlements through the late 1800s. In the eastern state of Bahia, slaves made up about one third of the labour force.

Understanding the origin of these slaves is very important to understanding how the revolt was so successful. Most of the slaves came either from Senegambia (on the western coast of Africa), or from the Bight of Benin (modern-day Benin, Togo, and Nigeria). The slaves from these areas were almost entirely Muslim. The Wolof and Mandinke people of Senegambia were entirely Muslim by the 1400s and were very learned in Islamic matters, with many scholars among them. The Yoruba, Nupe, and Hausa people from Benin were also entirely Muslim since at least the 1500s.

The location of the revolt, Salvador, in Brazil:When these Muslim slaves arrived in Brazil, they carried with them their religious beliefs, with most refusing to submit to Catholicism like their Portuguese and Brazilian masters. Even as slaves, they managed to carry on an Islamic community with imams (scholars), mosques, schools, and communal prayer. In the capital of Bahia, Salvador, where the revolt would take place, over 20 different mosques existed, being built by both Muslim slaves, and freedmen (former slaves who had gained freedom).


Organizing Revolt: In 1814 and 1816, the Muslims of Bahia attempted to organize a revolt against the Portuguese. They wanted to overthrow the local law enforcement, free all the slaves, and commandeer ships back to Africa. Unfortunately, some slaves were serving as informants to the local police, and the revolt was crushed before it even started, with its leaders being killed. Over the next 20 years, intermittent minor revolts by Muslims and non-Muslims alike were met with no success in bringing freedom to Bahia’s slaves.

Before discussing the revolt in 1835, we must understand the unifying factor Islam played in the organization of the slaves. The Wolof, Mandinke, Hausa, Nupe, and Yoruba all spoke different languages. While some people have ignorant ideas about Africa being one monolithic entity, it is a diverse continent of different people, cultures, and nations. These Muslim slaves in Bahia were as diverse as a group of French, German, Russian, and Greek speakers. Despite their ethnic differences, the unifying factor between all of them was Islam. Islam provided them with a common language to speak (Arabic), common customs, dietary habits, and behaviours. The Muslims of Bahia would be much more connected to fellow Muslims of a different ethnicity than non-Muslims who spoke the same language as them. Throughout Islamic history, unity such as this has led to greater strength and solidarity.

Muslim slaves in Bahia, Brazil: The failed revolts of 1814 and 1816 forced Bahia’s Muslims to go into hiding. Outward expressions of Islam were repressed by the authorities. Despite this, throughout the 1820s and 1830s, the Muslim leaders and scholars focused greatly on converting other Africans (be they Catholic or animist) to Islam. Even the Brazilian authorities noticed an increase in the number of people practicing Islam, but did not pay it much attention.

The people who organized the revolt were exclusively Muslim scholars. Due to the strength of the Muslim community, they were well respected by the people and held in a position of honour and esteem. Among these leaders were men such as:

Shaykh Dandara - a wealthy freedman who was an imam; Shaykh Sanim - an elderly slave who established a school to teach people about Islam;

Malam Bubakar Ahuna - the leading scholar throughout Bahia, who organized Muslim community events.

These Muslim scholars, as well as many others, used the mosques as a base of operations. There they discussed plans for revolt, stored weapons, and educated the local Africans. It was through these mosques that Malam Bubakar distributed his call to jihad (holy struggle, or military resistance). He wrote out a document in Arabic that called on Muslims to unify in preparation for the coming revolt against their Brazilian masters.

The Revolt: The authorities had received some information that a rebellion was brewing, so they took proactive steps and exiled Malam Bubakar six months before the revolt was scheduled. Despite this, the plans for the revolt were already finalized and distributed to Muslims throughout Bahia. The revolt was to take place after the Fajr (dawn) prayer on January 25th, 1835, which was the 27th of Ramadan, 1250 AH in the Muslim calendar. Some Muslims consider the 27th to be the most probable date for Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Destiny, when the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The Muslims of Bahia chose this date in the hope that the heightened spiritual state of the community would lead to greater chances for success.

Because of the massive size of the planned revolt, word was bound to reach the Bahia police about the revolt. The night before the revolt was scheduled to take place, they raided one of the local mosques and found Muslims armed with swords and other weapons. The fight that ensued led to the death of one officer. Thus, the revolt had to start early.

Albeit a few hours early, the Muslim revolutionaries from this mosque marched out of the mosque, ready to begin the revolt in the dead of night. They were dressed in long white thobes (tunics) and kufis (skullcaps) that clearly identified them as Muslims. Because the revolt was scheduled to begin at dawn, not all the mosques came out in revolt at the same time. Regardless, those that did start the revolt around midnight marched throughout the streets of Salvador, gathering other slaves (both Muslim and non-Muslim) to join them in their revolt. Before the rest of the mosques even joined, there were about 300 slaves and freedmen marching through the city.

Eventually, the governor of Bahia managed to mobilize the local armed forces to confront the rebels. The few hundred Africans now met over 1,000 professional soldiers with advanced weaponry in the streets of Salvador. The battle lasted for about an hour, and led to the death of over 100 Africans and 14 Brazilian soldiers. The Brazilian authorities clearly won the battle. The revolt never managed to overthrow the local government, nor to board ships headed back to Africa. It appeared to be a failure.

Aftermath: The leaders of the revolt, the Muslim scholars, were put on trial and executed. The numerous slaves who took part in the revolt were given punishments ranging from imprisonment to lashings. Although on the surface the revolt appears to be a failure, there is more to it than that.

After the revolt, a general fear of Africans, particularly Muslims, gripped the people of Brazil. The Brazilian government passed laws that led to a mass deportation of Africans back to Africa. One of the original goals of the Bahia Revolt was to be returned to Africa, so this can be seen as a partial victory for the rebellion.

More importantly, however, the Bahia Revolt spurred the anti-slavery movement throughout Brazil. Although slavery continued to exist in Brazil until 1888, the revolt began the public discussion about the role of slaves and the benefit or detriment they provided to Brazilian society. It is seen as one of the most important events in leading towards freedom for Brazilian slaves.

It is important to note that the single defining factor for the Bahia Revolt was its Islamic character. It was organized and led by Muslim scholars, planned in mosques, and supported by a largely Muslim African population. Without Islam as a unifying factor, such a revolt would never have been possible, nor would the effect it had have been so great.

Furthermore, Islam continued as a strong force in Brazil for decades. The violent Brazilian reaction to oppress Islam in the aftermath of the revolt did nothing to stamp Islam out. It is estimated that in 1910, there were still over 100,000 Muslims throughout Brazil. This is a testament to the strength of the Muslim community of Brazil and their dedication to Islam.

Any discussion on the history of Islam in the Western Hemisphere must include the heroic actions of these Muslims. Islam is not a new religion in North and South America, brought by recent immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia, as many tend to believe. Rather, it is a religion that has greatly influenced the course of North and South American history in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.

Bibliography:Shareef, Muhammad. The Islamic Slave Revolts of Bahia, Brazil. Pittsburg: Sankore Institute, 1998.


Source: https://www.milligazette.com/news/islamic-perspectives/10492-the-muslim-slave-revolt-in-bahia-brazil/


Cc: lalasticlala, mynd44, nlfpmod, caseless.

it is called the Malê revolt

Yoruba Blog
10 February 2021

Pacifico Licutan was a Yoruba Muslim slave and a leader of the Islamic community in Bahia. His followers refer to him as 'Bilal' a connection to the Islamic figure (one of the most trusted companions of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W).

When his owner, Antonio Pinto de Varalle died, Pacifico was imprisoned by his master's creditors, he was to be sold away to service the debts of his master. His followers attempt to free him led to the Malê revolt, because the majority of the rebels were ìmàle (in Yoruba the Islamic religion is referred to as 'èsìn ìmàle', the religion from Mali, hence the rebellion got its name).


It was in the month of Ramadan and they had chosen the night of Lai latul Qadir to stage the attack. The rebels had read about the Haitian revolution (1791-1804) and were motivated by it. They wore necklaces bearing the image of President Dessalines, who had declared Haitian Independence and on it were Quranic inscription. The attack began at about 1:00 am on Sunday, January 25, 1835. Their primary objective was to free Pacifico, the rebel leaders, among which were freedmen split themselves and moved to attack the prison.

Unfortunately, they were repelled by the prison guards and local authority who had laid siege at the Prison gate. Information about the rebellion had leaked a day before through Sabina da Cruz, an ex-slave, who had a fight with her husband, Vitório Sule the day before and went looking for him. She found him in a house with many of the other revolt organizers and after they told her tomorrow they would-be masters of the land. After leaving this house, she went to her friend Guilhermina, a freedwoman, who Sabina knew had access to whites. Guilhermina then proceeded to tell her white neighbour, André Pinto da Silveira. Several of Pinto de Silveira’s friends were present, including Antônio de Souza Guimarães and Francisco Antônio Malheiros, who took it upon themselves to relay the information to the local authorities. All of these events occurred between the hours of 9:30 and 10:30 pm on Saturday.

Victôrio Sule and several other slaves were killed in the attack, four of the rebels were executed and sixteen of them sent to prison, over two hundred of the surviving rebels were deported (they are present-day Tabom people in Ghana). In other to get more information on the revolt, Pacifico was severely tortured, but he wouldn't say anything other than; 'la ilaha illallah Muhammad Rasulullah' -, “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” he died several days later. #yorubablog

Below is the true photograph of Pacifico Licutan who was a Yoruba Muslim former slave and a leader of the Islamic community in Bahia.


Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifico_Licutan
https://web.facebook.com/yorubablog/photos/a.100225668478028/216297893537471

THE MALÊ REBELLION IN BRAZIL (1835)


The Malê Rebellion in Brazil, also known as The Great Revolt, was a Muslim slave rebellion in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in January 1835. The uprising occurred on a Sunday during Ramadan when enslaved African Muslims and freemen rose against the government. Yoruba and Hausa Muslims organized the rebellion, but non-Muslims from various backgrounds also participated. Muslims in Brazil were called Malê in Yoruba which led to the uprising being named the Malê Rebellion.


The rebellion was scheduled to take place on January 25, 1835. Preparation meetings took place in various locations across Salvador. The Muslim leaders in the uprising included Ahuna, Pacifico Licutan, Luis Sanim, Manoel Calafate, and Elesbao do Corma. There were indications that one of the main reasons for the rebellion was to establish an Islamic nation and kill or enslave non-Muslims, including whites as well as other Afro-Brazilians who were of mixed-race.

There were also tensions between the enslaved population born in Africa and those born in Brazil. A day before the rebellion was supposed to start; enslaved people began to hear rumors of the upcoming revolution. A former slave, Sabina da Cruz, fought with her husband, Vitorio Sule, and when he left, she went looking for him. She found him at a house meeting with other revolt organizers. They told her about the rebellion and said they would become masters of the land once the uprising started. After leaving the house, she told her friend and freewoman named Guilhermina about the plan rebellion. Guilhermina then told her white neighbor, Andre Pinto da Silveria. Two of Pinto da Silveria’s friends, Antonio de Souza Guimaraes and Francisco Antonio Malheiros, who were present when Guilhermina shared the information, then passed it on to local authorities.

Once the local authorities learned about the rebellion, revolt leaders were ambushed by military forces. When they fired back, the uprising began. The rebels attempted to attack a prison that held Muslim leader Pacifico Licutan to free him, but they failed. An estimated 600 enslaved Yoruba then took to the streets of Salvador. They attack the military barracks that protected the city. However, due to their inferior weapons and their being outnumbered by Brazilian National Guard troops, Salvador Police, and armed white civilians, they were defeated. It was estimated that during the day-long rebellion 80 enslaved people and seven National Guards troops were killed. Approximately 300 rebels were captured.

Brazilian authorities sentenced four of the rebels to death, sixteen to prison, eight to forced labour, and forty-five to flogging. Overall, more than 500 Muslim Africans, including most of the surviving rebels, were expelled from Brazil and returned to the African continent.

Despite the rebellion’s failure, many saw the Malê Rebellion in Brazil as the turning point of slavery in Brazil. Beginning in the 1850s, the slave trade which brought Africans to Brazil was gradually ended. In 1871, the so-called “Free Womb Law” declared all children born to enslaved women would be free. Slavery was officially and finally abolished in Brazil in 1888.

Subjects:
Global African History, Events
Terms:
Slave/Freedmen, 19th Century (1800-1899), Racial Conflict - Resistance/Rebellion, South America-Brazil, Religion-Islam, Military Conflict-Slave Rebellions


Source: https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/events-global-african-history/the-male-rebellion-in-brazil-1835/

MrBrownJay1:
it is called the Malê revolt

Absolute @MrBrownJay1.
Male is derived from Imale, the old
Yoruba name for Muslims from
Mali or the "religion of Mali" which arrived over 500 years ago in the Oyo Empire from the Mali Empire via long-distance trading.

In Bahia, Brazil as of the 1835 revolt, many Yorubas there refered to Islam or Muslims as Imale or "Male" which then became the general name for Muslims in Bahia and Brazil.

Enlightening!

Day169:
Enlightening!

Absolute @Day169, it was a turning point that triggered the end of the
enslavement of Africans in Brazil in the late 1800s.

AlphaTaikun:

Absolute @Day169, it was a turning point that triggered the end of the
enslavement of Africans in Brazil in the late 1800s.

I think it's high time we reintroduced history into the curriculum in secondary schools.
Beyond the fascination of learning about the events that shaped our evolution, it also gives a sense of pride to know about our heroes' past and what the real price of freedom could be.

Day169:

I think it's high time we reintroduced history into the curriculum in secondary schools.
Beyond the fascination of learning about the events that shaped our evolution, it also gives a sense of pride to know about our heroes' past and what the real price of freedom could be.

True that!

@Day169, I like your deep insights here on the vast benefits of history.

All the best.

How did they ended up as slaves in Brazil?

Were they sold off for being part of the Islamic revolution led by Afonja?

This is one question begging answers as most of the slave trade in Yoruba land was under the control of Yoruba and Hausa slavers.

Is a Muslim not forbidden to sell his fellow Muslim into slavery ?

I know that Muslim slaves from the north were in Yoruba land serving as cattle handlers under a Yoruba Muslim master.

But something must have led to these Yoruba Muslims ending up in the hulls of slave ships .

DeepThroater:
How did they end up as slaves in Brazil?

Were they sold off for being part of the Islamic revolution led by Afonja?

This is one question begging answers as most of the slave trade in Yoruba land was under the control of Yoruba and Hausa slavers.

Is a Muslim not forbidden to sell his fellow Muslim into slavery ?

I know that Muslim slaves from the north were in Yoruba land serving as cattle handlers under a Yoruba Muslim master.

But something must have led to these Yoruba Muslims ending up in the hulls of slave ships.

Generalisimo Afonja did NOT lead an Islamic revolution. His rebellion was against the Oyo Empire and the desire to gain independence.

Second, in the 1700s and 1800s, most Yorubas who became victims of mass deportations on slave ships from what is now Nigeria and Benin Republic were Yoruba religion (Ifa) adherants and Muslims since Islam has existed in Yorubaland for 500 years!


Many Yoruba Muslim military Generals and commanders such as
Balogun (or General) Oderinlo of Ibadan led the Ibadan military to brutally defeat (in the 1800s) the Jihadists who had attacked Yorubaland and other parts of modern Nigeria.


The Kanuris who have had Islam for 1,000 years also lost and then finally defeated the Fulah Jihadist invaders.

The Fulani solds many Hausa and Kanuri Jihad war captives into slavery (including people who were already Muslims) in the 1800s such as Ali Eisami the Kanuri man who was rescued by a British Naval ship from a slave ship in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and taken to Sierra Leone. Eko (Lagos Island), Badagry, Whydah, Ajase (Porto Novo), were the main exit points for
Yorubas, Nupes, Hausas, and
Kanuri war captives.


Hope this helps.

A very interesting thread.

madridguy:
A very interesting thread.

Thanks @madridguy. I'm glad you found the thread insightful.

It shows the triumph of the human spirit and that enslaved Africans were not docile, and did not just accept their fate on the plantations.


All the best.