National Day of Afro-Brazilian consciousness or National Day of Zumbi and Black Consciousness in Brazil

This day in Brazil is celebrated to honor the death of Zumbi, Brazilian quilombola leader and one of the pioneers of resistance to enslavement of Africans by the Portuguese in colonial Brazil. We take this day to honor Zumbi and all African resistors to slavery and colonialism and their Indigenous allies. Zumbi was the last of the kings of the Quilombo dos Palmares. There were many quilombos in Brazil but Palmares was established around 1605 and at its height had a population of more than 30,000 with a confederation of 11 towns. Zumbi was born free into this community in 1655 but captured by Portuguese at a young age until he was able to escape to return to his home as a teenager. As leader of Palmares he defeated the Portuguese in six expeditions they led from 1680 and 1686. After 67 years of freedom and resistance, the Portuguese captured Cerca do Macaco, the main settlement of Palmares in 1694. Although ultimately defeated, the success of Palmares through most of the 17th century greatly challenged colonial authority and stands as a beacon of slave resistance.