[1] After immigrating from Bahia in Brazil to coastal Dahomey in the 18th century, Francisco Felix de Sousa began to function as a trader of various goods - chief of which were slaves.
[2] His activities there made him so influential in Dahomey's affairs that he was recognized by the Dahomeyans as a tribal chief, the chacha of Ouidah, following his support of their ruler King Ghezo in his rise to power.
[6] If true, it would make the contemporary De Souzas members of the Portuguese nobility in addition to being an African chieftaincy family.
The fact that their founder was reputed by some to be the world's most prolific slavetrader has ensured that there is a great deal of resentment directed towards the family by some of their fellow Beninese.
In reference to the family's origins and the anger its history sometimes inspires, current chacha Moise de Souza is quoted as saying: It is something that makes me feel bad.