Alvares, African Healing, By James H. Sweet

James H. Sweet works as a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin. Sweet’s book “Domingos Alvares, African Healing, and the Intellectual History of the Atlantic World” was published in 2011 by The University of North Carolina Press. Sweet’s inspiration originates from the belief that we are connected to our precursors and kinfolk and we too effortlessly lose consciousness of this in our day by day lives. Sweet argues that Domingos’ Spiritual, social, and political awareness originated from the struggle with the realm of Dahomey. Domingos became motivated to utilize his African past in a chronic endeavor for freedom due to the effects of Dahomey clashes that reverberated extensively over the Atlantic world. During these experiences …show more content…
Along with the capture of a young man who later would be known as Domingos Alvares. Domingos became enslaved between the time of 1728 and 1732. His knowledge of vodun placed him in a position of power. At the time Europeans only knew vodun as a force or power that by means of supernatural could promise wealth, peace and prosperity. Sweet goes on to describe Domingos journey after being captured. Traveling by canoe Domingos along with the others enslaved set sail to Jakin. Upon arrival they were inspected by potential buyers and eventually sold then transported to a location desired by their masters. Next their masters forced the enslaved to march in shackles and forced them upon slave ships. Sweet uses a primary source by a Portuguese doctor on the ship to describe the horrible conditions and environment aboard the ship. After a long vigorous trip they arrived on Enhenho Tapirema. Owners would baptize the enslaved Africans and they would be given Christian names. This process created the man now known as Domingos …show more content…
Domingos not happy with his situation placed a vodun curse on Freitas his owner. Freitas enraged, sent Domingos to jail where he looked to sell him. In 1737 Freitas sold Domingos to Manuel da Costa Soares. A year later Costa Soares released Domingos to Jose Cardoso de Almeida. During this time Domingos realized that his healing powers could lead to freedom. Almeida also realizes Domingos talents and grants him freedom to move around the city and practice his vodun healing. Holding on to this new freedom would be a challenge. A raid conducted on a healing house ended with Domingos being arrested and put in jail. The Inquisitorial commissioner concluded that Domingos “had a pact with the devil, being publicly known as a feiticeiro with notorious scandal all over this city” Sweet uses the Inquisition file of the Portuguese nation achieved to show the interrogation between manuel Varejao and