Ganga Zumba

One of the main leaders of Palmares in the second half of the seventeenth century, Ganga Zumba is mentioned as a king. His name means “big lord,” and in his presence, as reported by Pedro de Almeida, everybody would “immediately put their knee on the ground and clap their hands.” When the governor of Pernambuco opened negotiations to accept Palmares’ autonomy and allow trade to be conducted in the region, Ganga-Zumba agreed to surrender the captives not born in the mocambos. Disgruntled leaders abandoned the Cucaú mocambo, increasing the number of Zumbi’s supporters. Ganga-Zumba was eventually poisoned, and many of his followers were executed.