Queen Marta

Quilombos were formed since the beginning of the nineteenth century on the banks of rivers and streams, especially on the Iguaçu and Sarapuí rivers around Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, and remained in existence until the eve of Abolition in 1888. Queen Marta was identified as one of the leaders of the Iguaçu quilombos. Besides taking care of cassava fields, she acted as an intermediary in commercial exchanges between quilombolas and local taverns. When the newspapers reported attacks on several of these mocambos, they listed Marta among twenty people who were arrested; she was presented as the “Queen of the quilombo.” The title attests to the combined power, leadership and prestige that Marta had in the daily life of Iguaçu.