Xica da Silva is is popularly known as the Brazilian slave who became a queen

Francisca da Silva Oliveira popularly known as Xica da Silva or Chica da Silva was a Brazilian woman who became remarkable because she became rich and powerful although she was born into slavery.

She was born in Vila do Príncipe, in Minas Gerais but  lived mostly of her life in Arraial do Tijuco (in presente day Diamantina) and was the Daughter of a Portuguese man and his black enslaved. Her first master was a Sargent with whom she had two sons; her second master was Priest Rolim, who was forced to sell her to a diamond mine owner and mining Governor of Arraial do Tijuco named João Fernandes de Oliveira, which was one of the richest men of Colonial Brazil.

Francisca and João surprisingly started a romance and she was freed by him. They we not officially married but lived together for several years and had 13 children. In 1770, João had to return to Portugal and took some of the children with him. Even when João was gone, she retained her prestige. She died in 1796 and was buried at the church, which was something that was enjoyed only by rich white people.

The saga of her life was portrayed in many movies, books, songs and soap operas. Even in the United States a film called “Xica” was released in 1976. An adaptation for TV, marked the first time an afro-Brazilian actress played lead role on a TV program. In 2005, the tv channel SBT re-aired the novela, calling it “Xica da Silva”. The soap opera caused a big controversy because at the time because it showed a 17 years old actress half naked.

Works (source: Wikipedia):

Xica da Silva (movie): a film released in 1976, by Cacá Diegues, starring Zezé Motta as Chica da Silva

Xica da Silva (telenovela): a telenovela released in 1996, written by Walcyr Carrasco and directed by Walter Avancini. It has been successful in several countries around the world.

Xica da Silva, a song by Jorge Ben on his 1976 album África Brasil

Chica da Silva. a song by Boney M from the 1985 album Eye Dance