Tapera dos Palmares

The conclusion, “Tapera dos Palmares,” summarizes the book’s main arguments and proposes a new frame for thinking about Palmares, which, the book has shown, may be thought of not only as Palmares but also as Tapera dos Palmares. The phrase derives from the forgotten place discussed in chapter 1 and emphasizes the importance of centering (and rethinking) Indigenous histories and symbols within the history of Palmares. By showing “abandonment” and “ruin” to also be generative, the conclusion suggests how we may revisit old assumptions about marronage and maroon communities. Most importantly, that reconsideration demands that the apparent lack of historical connectivity—in cases like Palmares, where there are no or few known descendants—may in fact be ripe ground for diasporic creation and for exploring new ways to account for and repair the incalculable violence of slavery.