THE STORY OF BENEDITO HALF-LEAGUE

THE STORY OF BENEDITO HALF-LEAGUE
Benedito Meia-Légua, who haunted slave owners years before abolition. His original name was Benedito Caravelas and he lived until 1885. He was a natural leader and well-travelled, and knew a lot about the northeast. His wanderings had earned him the nickname “Half-league”. He always carried a small image of Saint Benedict with him, which later took on a magical meaning.
He gathered groups of insurgent blacks, invading the slave quarters, freeing other blacks and looting farms.
They say he was a bold and creative strategist, he created small groups to avoid large captures and attacked different farms simultaneously. The genius of the plan was that the leader of each group dressed exactly like him.
Whenever one had the misfortune of being captured, Benedito would reappear in other rebellions. The farmers came to believe that he was Immortal. And whenever there was news of slaves rebelling, the question would come up: “But could it be Benedito?”
The myth gained strength after a dramatic capture. Benedito arrived in São Mateus (ES) tied by the neck, being pulled by a captain of the forest on horseback. He was declared dead and taken to the slave cemetery, in the church of São Benedito. The next day, when they went to check on the body, it had disappeared and only bloody footprints were on the ground.
The legend arose that he was protected by Saint Benedict himself. For more than 40 years, he and his Quilombo, more than resisted, struck down the slavery system.
Meia-Légua was only killed in his old age, lame and sick. He slept in a hollow tree trunk. A hiding place that was reported by a hunter. His pursuers lay in wait, waiting for Benedito to retreat. They covered the trunk and set it on fire.
His legacy is a trail of courage, faith, boldness and strength to fight for our people, which is still represented today in Congada and Ticumbi performances throughout Brazil. Amidst the ashes they found his small image of Saint Benedict.
Every January 1st, the Ticumbi procession goes to collect the small image of Saint Benedict from Córrego das Piabas and takes it to the church in a dramatic performance to celebrate the memory of Meia-Légua.