Anderson, Robert Nelson. “The Quilombo of Palmares: A New Overview of a Maroon State in Seventeenth-Century Brazil.” Journal of Latin American Studies 28, no. 3 (1996): 545-566.
In this article, Luso-Brazilian studies scholar Robert Nelson Anderson provides an overview of what is known about the history of Palmares, consolidating sources and revising a previous seminal text by R.K. Kent, entitled “Palmares: An African State in Brazil” of 1965. Previously, Kent’s article was taken as a standard in the field and used as a primer on the history of Palmares. Anderson, however, points out some of the errors in Kent’s conclusions and, notably, his translations that had been reused and perpetuated by later scholars. Kent’s mistranslations become particularly significant in light of the dearth of other English translations of the primarily Dutch and Portuguese language source materials. Anderson sets out to correct the record and augment Kent’s argument. After reviewing much of the primary source material, Anderson addresses the Afro-Brazilian “syncretic” character of Palmares, including a religious culture that mixed Christian tradition with decidedly non-European practices like polygamy. Anderson clarifies that the Portuguese, at least, perceived Palmares as a type of monarchy and referred to one of their leaders, Ganga-Zumba, as the king. The author characterizes Palmares as essentially multiethnic, comprised not only of descandants of Angolan slaves, but also indigenous peoples and poor colonials and immigrants of all racial backgrounds. He lastly delineates the history of Zumbi, the last leader of Palmares who was in power at the time of its defeat by the Portuguese in 1694.
See also: Kent, R.K. “Palmares: An African State in Brazil.” The Journal of African History 6, no. 2 (1965): 161-175.
QUILOMBO DOS PALMARES AND SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY BRAZIL 