What I Left Behind: The Will of Sabina da Cruz, "Whistlebower" of the Revolta dos Malês

Abstract

In the 19th-century slave society of Bahia, enslaved and freed africans sought to adapt to the impositions of the New World, and despite the adversities they faced, they succeeded in establishing social networks whose support was essential to their survival. The aim here is to transcribe the will of Sabina da Cruz, african, freedwoman and a "whistlebower" of the Revolta dos Malês — the most significant insurrection involving enslaved and freed people in 19th-century Bahia. Sabina's will, dated August 13, 1868, is notable for revealing the social network in which she was embedded. This document serves as a source of information for reconstructing her life trajectory and raises possibilities for understanding what motivated her actions.