Lourenco da Silva Mendonca and the Black Atlantic Abolitionist Movement in the Seventeenth Century

This study highlights the involvement of Africans in the abolition of slavery through an organized legal case before the Vatican in the 17th century. It challenges the notion that the abolition debate was solely dominated by white Europeans and emphasizes the complex nature of the African liberation struggle.

Format: Hardback
Length: 377 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This groundbreaking study delves into the captivating tale of a meticulously organized, international legal case that sought to abolish slavery in the seventeenth century. Led by the esteemed Prince Lourenço da Silva Mendonça, this case was presented before the Vatican, advocating for the freedom of all enslaved individuals and oppressed groups. This comprehensive scope encompassed New Christians (Jews who had converted to Christianity), Indigenous Americans in the Atlantic World, and Black Christians from confraternities in Angola, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. It is widely acknowledged that the abolition debate primarily unfolded within the realm of white Europeans during the eighteenth century. However, José Lingna Nafafé presents a fresh and transformative perspective on the abolition movement by centering African agency. Through his pioneering work, Lingna Nafafé unveils for the first time how Africans initiated the legal discourse surrounding slavery. In his first-of-its-kind book, Lingna Nafafé intricately explores the intricate complexities of the African liberation struggle, challenging prevailing notions and revealing the hidden truths about African slavery.

Weight: 882g
ISBN-13: 9781108838238