Antônia Gonçalves de Pontes was 91 years old and leaves a legacy of commitment and dedication to the quilombola struggle
Antônia Gonçalves de Pontes, a quilombola leader from the Cangume community in Vale do Ribeira (SP), passed away this Monday (06/01) at the age of 91. Better known as Dona Antônia, she had 10 children and a history of dedication to the fight for land.
With the support of his family, he fought against dams and mining projects in the region, worked towards the titling of the territory and was fortunate enough to see the recognition of Quilombo Cangume by the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra) last year.
See the post from Quilombo do Cangume:
Dona Antônia was also one of the most experienced mediums and healers in Cangume, a quilombo formed by black people who fled forced recruitment for the Paraguayan War, around 1870.
Located in the municipality of Itaóca, Cangume has been practicing Kardecist spiritualism since the mid-1930s, which involves the work of mediums such as Dona Antônia. She began developing her abilities at the age of 17 and has not stopped since. Relatives and friends attend the meetings to give advice, communicate with the living and listen to hymns with guidance on the path to follow after passing.
Dona Antônia was a great storyteller, she valued the memory of the dead and experienced many celebrations that no longer exist, such as Santa Cruz and tribute in honor of Saint Anthony.
Read the tribute from Congressman Nilto Tatto (PT-SP):
Her legacy lives on in the community's experiences, in the stories around the table and memories of dances. All the people who visited the community first arrived at Antônia's house and were welcomed with her famous coffee, which she roasted herself, pounded in a mortar and prepared on the wood stove.
The nephew and current coordinator of the Quilombo Cangume Association, Odair Dias dos Santos (Seu Odair), also pays tribute to his aunt.
“She was practically one of the main voices in the fight for quilombola land. Her house was very full because she told so many stories. Her dream was to see the territory titled and she achieved it. She left only good memories,” he said. “She was a wonderful person, she loved people, she loved the community, she loved her family, they went through so much and she never complained about anything,” he added.
The Socioenvironmental Institute (ISA) regrets the death of Dona Antônia and expresses its solidarity with her family and friends at this time of sadness.
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