Luís Gama
Encyclopedia
Luís Gonzaga Pinto da Gama (June 21, 1830 — August 24, 1882) was a Brazilian Romantic
poet, journalist, lawyer and a proeminent abolitionist
.
fidalgo
who lost all his fortune with gambling
, and Luísa Mahin (also spelled Maheu), a young slave woman provenient of what is now the city of Elmina
, in Ghana
. She was famous for getting herself involved in many rebellions, such as the 1835 Malê Revolt
and the Sabinada.
In 1840, when Gama was 10 years old, his father sold him illegally, allegedly because of debts. Gama was bought by an alférez named Antônio Pereira Cardoso. Cardoso would try to sell him once more, but no one would buy Gama, since he was provenient from Bahia
, and Bahian slaves had the fame of being runaways. Cardoso then decided to use Gama as a housekeeper in his farm in the city of Lorena.
In 1847, a student named Antônio Rodrigues de Araújo would host on Cardoso's house. He and Gama developed a strong friendship, and Araújo would teach Gama how to read and write. Learning then about the illegality of his condition, Gama fled to São Paulo
, and would study Law
at the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo
, but he did not finish the course. During later life, he would work as a rábula, that is, a non-graduated lawyer that obtains permission to follow career.
During the 1860s he became a journalist, collaborating with Angelo Agostini
in Ipiranga, Coroaci and O Polichileno. He founded the journal Radical Paulistano in 1869 alongside Ruy Barbosa
. He also helped to create the Republican Party of São Paulo
in 1873.
Gama had freed more than one thousand slaves in São Paulo
, before his death in 1882, victimated by diabetes.
. Most of the poems are satires about the customs of the 19th century Brazilian aristocracy
.
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
poet, journalist, lawyer and a proeminent abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
.
Life
Gama was born in 1830, to a PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
fidalgo
Fidalgo
Fidalgo , from Galician and Portuguese filho de algo—sometimes translated into English as "son of somebody" or "son of some "—is a traditional title used in Portugal to refer to a member of the titled or untitled nobility...
who lost all his fortune with gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, and Luísa Mahin (also spelled Maheu), a young slave woman provenient of what is now the city of Elmina
Elmina
Elmina, is a town in the Central Region, situated on a south-facing bay on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana, about 12 km west of Cape Coast...
, in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. She was famous for getting herself involved in many rebellions, such as the 1835 Malê Revolt
Male Revolt
The Malê Revolt is perhaps the most significant slave rebellion in Brazil. On a Sunday during Ramadan in January 1835, in the city of Salvador da Bahia, a small group of black slaves and freedmen, inspired by Muslim teachers, rose up against the government...
and the Sabinada.
In 1840, when Gama was 10 years old, his father sold him illegally, allegedly because of debts. Gama was bought by an alférez named Antônio Pereira Cardoso. Cardoso would try to sell him once more, but no one would buy Gama, since he was provenient from Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, and Bahian slaves had the fame of being runaways. Cardoso then decided to use Gama as a housekeeper in his farm in the city of Lorena.
In 1847, a student named Antônio Rodrigues de Araújo would host on Cardoso's house. He and Gama developed a strong friendship, and Araújo would teach Gama how to read and write. Learning then about the illegality of his condition, Gama fled to São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, and would study Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo
Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo
Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo is an institution of higher education and research in the field of Law located in São Paulo, Brazil...
, but he did not finish the course. During later life, he would work as a rábula, that is, a non-graduated lawyer that obtains permission to follow career.
During the 1860s he became a journalist, collaborating with Angelo Agostini
Angelo Agostini
Angelo Agostini was an illustrator, journalist and founder of several publications, and although born in Italy, is considered the first Brazilian cartoonist.-Biography:...
in Ipiranga, Coroaci and O Polichileno. He founded the journal Radical Paulistano in 1869 alongside Ruy Barbosa
Ruy Barbosa
Ruy Barbosa de Oliveira was a Brazilian writer, jurist, and politician.Born in Salvador da Bahia, he was a federal representative, senator, Minister of Finance and diplomat. For his distinguished participation in the Hague Peace Conference of 1907, he earned the nickname "Eagle of the Hague"...
. He also helped to create the Republican Party of São Paulo
Republican Party of São Paulo
The Republican Party of São Paulo a.k.a Partido Republicano Paulista or PRP was a Brazilian political party founded on April 18, 1873 during the Itu Convention and sparked the first modern republican movement in Brazil....
in 1873.
Gama had freed more than one thousand slaves in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, before his death in 1882, victimated by diabetes.
Works
Gama would publish a poetry book, Primeiras Trovas Burlescas de Getulino (Getulino's First Burlesque Ballads), in 18591859 in literature
The year 1859 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*George Eliot's novel Adam Bede is accused of being the "vile outpourings of a lewd woman's mind" in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and was consequently withdrawn from libraries.*30 April - Charles Dickens's...
. Most of the poems are satires about the customs of the 19th century Brazilian aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.