Atibe Adeola

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Pata Seca: the slave turned into a “human-breeding machine”

In the 19th century, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, there lived a man named Roque José Florêncio, better known by his nickname Pata Seca — meaning “Dry Paw.” He stood about 2.18 meters (7 feet 2 inches) tall, and his owners decided to use him as a “breeding bull” — to produce new slaves.

According to legend, he fathered between 200 and 300 children.
After the abolition of slavery, he was granted a piece of land, got married, and had nine more children.
It is said that he lived to be 130 years old, and thousands of people attended his funeral.