Calarto Gold Necklace

Carlota Lucumí was an African-born enslaved woman and a prominent leader of the 1843 slave revolt at the Triunvirato sugar plantation in Matanzas, Cuba. Originating from the Yoruba people—her surname "Lucumí" referring to the Yoruba ethnic group—Carlota was forcibly brought to Cuba, where she became a symbol of resistance and liberation.

In November 1843, Carlota, alongside another enslaved woman named Fermina, orchestrated a daring uprising against the brutal conditions faced by enslaved Africans on the plantation. Using a drum to signal the start of the rebellion, Carlota and her fellow rebels attacked the enslavers and freed other enslaved people. It attempted to spread the revolt to neighbouring plantations. Despite the eventual suppression of the uprising and her own death during the conflict, Carlota's leadership, courage, and sacrifice inspired subsequent resistance movements.

Today, Carlota Lucumí is celebrated as a heroine and martyr in Cuban history and the African diaspora. She is honoured in Afro-Cuban culture, particularly within Santería, where she is venerated as a symbol of strength, resistance, and the enduring fight for freedom and justice. Her legacy endures as a testament to the resilience and agency of enslaved Africans in the Americas.