In honour of women’s history month, every day in March, I’ll be highlighting a woman who changed the world.

Today’s woman is Dandara of Palmares, an Afro-Brazillian warrior who fought for her, and others, right to be free.

Name: Dandara of Palmares

Born: Mid 1600s in either Africa or Brazil

Died: 1694

Iconic for: Attempting to liberate slaves and being a heroine of the black resistance within colonial Brazil.

Life summary: Dandara was an Afro-Brazillian who lived in Quilombo dos Palmares, a community of escaped slaves of Indian, African and Brazillan nationalities who fought against colonial rule in Brazil. She was married to Zumbi who was the last king of the community.

Palmares was a self-sustaining community, allocating tasks based on the skill of each individual, regardless of gender. Dandara planted and hunted, providing food for the others, and with the rest of the group…