Antônio Bispo dos Santos

Antônio Bispo dos Santos (December 12, 1959 – December 3, 2023), also known as Nêgo Bispo, was a Brazilian activist, academic and quilombo leader best known for his concept of counter-colonization. His work challenges colonial complexes and reflects on the experiences and struggles of quilombola communities.

Biography Bispo was born on December 12, 1959, in the Berlengas river valley in Piauí, Brazil. He worked at the State Coordination Office for Quilombola Communities of Piauí (Coordenação Estadual das Comunidades Quilombolas do Piauí—CECOQ/PI) and the National Coordination Office of the Black Rural Quilombola Communities Alliance (Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas—CONAQ). Bispo developed counter-colonialism independently, not having heard of the term decoloniality at the time.

Confluence and Transfluence In his vision of counter-colonization, Bispo distinguishes between confluence and transfluence. Confluence emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of diverse elements, reflecting the pluralistic worldview of traditional peoples. In contrast, transfluence governs the transformation of natural elements associated with Eurocentric and monotheistic perspectives that often seek to impose a singular worldview.

Cosmophobia Cosmophobia is the fear of the cosmos and of God. This concept arises from the Biblical account in Genesis, where Bispo interprets the eviction from Eden as transforming nature into a source of terror. As a result, Bispo considers the subjects of this deity to be living in a state of hopelessness.

Notable works Bispo has authored a series of influential papers and books:

Quilombos, modos e significados (2007) Colonização, Quilombos: modos e significados (2015) A terra dá, a terra quer (2023)