Heather Duval
07-04-2018, 05:33 AM
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 Sousa 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, which is consistent with his Afro-Brazilian background, and even had his own family shrine.[6] He was buried in Dahomey.[6]
Francisco Félix de Souza was the eighth generation descendant of Tomé de Sousa (1503-1579), a Portuguese nobleman who was the first governor-general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549-1553.[9] If true, it would make the contemporary de Souzas members of the Portuguese nobility in addition to being an African chieftaincy family.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQB7bk0pm0Znn8CgUCIwxIkoaiGUxZD9 oGIA1GsNXIUiMmFDUMy8w
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdTsknNBbPrnBXD3IY3irIYS0wCrgSc 9TLEVfqigaEANvYhJJ4wpIJ_Ri3zg
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 Sousa 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, which is consistent with his Afro-Brazilian background, and even had his own family shrine.[6] He was buried in Dahomey.[6]
Francisco Félix de Souza was the eighth generation descendant of Tomé de Sousa (1503-1579), a Portuguese nobleman who was the first governor-general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549-1553.[9] If true, it would make the contemporary de Souzas members of the Portuguese nobility in addition to being an African chieftaincy family.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQB7bk0pm0Znn8CgUCIwxIkoaiGUxZD9 oGIA1GsNXIUiMmFDUMy8w
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdTsknNBbPrnBXD3IY3irIYS0wCrgSc 9TLEVfqigaEANvYhJJ4wpIJ_Ri3zg