Teresa Chikaba facts for kids

Teresa Chikaba (also known as Chicaba or Chicava; born around 1676 – died December 6, 1748) was a princess from Ghana, a country in West Africa. She was kidnapped and forced into slavery. Later, she was bought by a Spanish noblewoman. The Catholic Church recognized her as "Venerable," which means she lived a very holy life.

Her Early Life and Journey to Spain

Most of what we know about Teresa Chikaba comes from a book written by a priest in 1752, a few years after she died. He talked to her and read her writings, which sadly no longer exist.

Where Was Teresa Born?

Teresa was born Chicaba in West Africa, in an area that today includes parts of eastern Ghana, Togo, Benin, and western Nigeria. She was kidnapped when she was about nine years old. She could only remember a few things about her life before she was taken. Her parents' names suggest she belonged to the Ewe people.

Kidnapped and Enslaved

Spanish sailors kidnapped Chicaba and sold her into slavery. She was first taken to the island of São Tomé, where she was baptized and given the name Teresa. As a child, she was then sent to Spain.

It's thought that her young age, an illness she had during the difficult journey across the ocean, or perhaps the gold bracelets she wore (which showed her high social status) made the traders think she would be worth a lot of money in Spain.

Life with a Spanish Noblewoman

Teresa was bought by Juliana Teresa Portocarrero y Meneses. This woman was a Duchess and later the wife of a powerful Spanish nobleman, the Marquess of Mancera. The Marquess had been a viceroy (a ruler representing the king) in New Spain (which is now Mexico). He had also protected a famous writer and nun named Juana Inés de la Cruz.

As part of this important household, young Teresa learned about her mistress's strong religious beliefs. She began to develop her own deep spiritual life. This spiritual journey eventually helped her gain her freedom. While living with the noblewoman, Teresa also gained knowledge that helped her later in life.

Challenges in the Household

Even though the noblewoman might have treated Teresa kindly, other people in the household were sometimes cruel to her. Her biography describes how she was mistreated by the housekeeper. Others also tried to interfere with her relationship with her confessor (a priest she talked to about her spiritual life).

Becoming a Nun

When her owner died in 1703, Teresa was set free. Her owner's will said that Teresa could join a Dominican convent (a community of religious women) in Salamanca, Spain. This convent was called La Penitencia.

Finding a Convent

Teresa traveled to this convent. It was the only one that would accept her, a Black woman, after several other convents had refused her. She brought a large dowry (money or property given to the convent when someone joins), which was more than most nuns brought to that community. She expected to be fully accepted, but she was surprised and disappointed.

At first, the local bishop (a church leader) did not allow her to become a nun. He only let her work as a maid for the religious community. After some years, he changed his mind, and she was finally allowed to take her vows and become a Dominican sister. Even though she became a "white veiled" sister (a type of nun), her daily tasks remained the same. She did simple chores and sometimes cared for the sick. Because of her race, she faced disadvantages in the strict social rules of convents at that time.

Recognition and Legacy

Over time, Teresa became known as a healer and a sister with special religious gifts. The money she received from the noblewoman's will, along with donations from people who asked for her prayers, helped her gain respect in the monastery. She even helped other nuns join the community by providing money for their dowries.

Teresa died on December 6, 1748. She was known for helping the poor, the sick, and those who were sad. Her acts of kindness, her deep spiritual experiences, and her fame as a healer or miracle worker led her religious order to commission two paintings of her soon after her death. These paintings were for people to honor her locally.

At the same time, they started the process for her beatification (the first step to becoming a saint). A priest named Paniagua wrote a special speech for her funeral and later a full book about her life. This book showed how her Catholic faith was connected to some religious practices kept by people of African descent. The process to make her a saint is still ongoing.

See also

In Spanish: Chicaba para niños