AFRO-COLOMBIAN: ORIGIN, HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS, IMPORTANCE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The Afro - Colombian is the term used to designate those born in Colombia and are related to the African race. This population is visualized as a symbol of resistance that, together with the indigenous people, have tried to forge new values ​​of acceptance and respect.

Despite the many doctrines of acceptance that have been put forward, this group continues to be the victim of racism not only in the social sphere, but also in the political sphere. It should be noted that this inequality began in colonial times, when the conquerors began to trade with slaves from Africa.

Man with Afro-Colombian features. Source: pixabay.com

From that moment on, blacks were classified as the lowest groups; However, due to the mistreatment they suffered since their arrival, some Africans decided to exchange the gold extracted for weapons and take revenge against the Spanish.

For this reason, the so-called Freedom Law was enacted, a code that stated that slaves had the opportunity to pay for their free will and join society.

In general terms, it can be established that Afro-Colombianity is a culture that has been unified with other ethnic groups and that, through its customs, has contributed to national development.

Dances, costumes and numerous terms are the most significant contributions. A notorious example is found in the successful novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, by the Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, who used the Afro-American word "Macondo" to designate a fictitious town.

Origin and history of Afro-Colombianity

Origin

Historians have established that the arrival of African slaves to Colombian territory occurred in 1520. By this time, indigenous people had fought in uprisings against Hispanics, contracted deadly diseases, and lost their identity as a result of Spanish mistreatment.

This meant that the number of Aboriginal people fit for work was very small, so a replacement had to be found.

In this way, the mistreatment of the black race began; The Spanish Crown decreed laws in favor of indigenous slavery and ordered expeditions to Cartagena de Indias -the most important port of the time- to buy and enter black slaves from Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and the Congo.

History

In colonial times, the subjugated blacks knew how to work the land to grow cotton, corn, and rice. Some were stocky and capable of moving heavy merchandise, while another group engaged in animal husbandry, fishing, crafts, and blacksmithing. These skills implied high growth in Colombian society.

After a few decades, a new and striking task was added to the African slaves: the extraction of gold in the mines, whose work involved hard and constant work, but which allowed the progress of today's incipient Colombia.

At that time, African women were engaged in domestic chores in the homes of the elite. Likewise, they were in charge of cultivating cocoa, sugar cane and tobacco, which represented a luxurious business in the seventeenth century community. During this period, African individuals began to bond with other social groups, giving rise to a new race.

At the beginning of the 19th century, slaves participated in the wars of Independence. Some chroniclers narrated that it was a race that knew how to use weapons and that it was made up of strong men, who wanted to be free.

For 1824, the cessation of the trafficking of subjugated who came from Africa was decreed. This brought as a consequence that twenty years later slavery did not exist in the country, however, the black community was still not completely free.

Characteristics of Afro-Colombianity

Holidays and contributions

In Colombia, every May 21, Afro-Colombian Day is celebrated thanks to the decree signed by Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, who was president in 1851 and abolished slavery. Since that date, Afro-descendants celebrate their culture throughout the territory.

Afro-Colombians have contributed to the evolution of agriculture and medicine, as they have applied the knowledge and experiences they acquired from their ancestors, such as indicating the days that are conducive to cultivation. In addition, they know how to make medicines with natural products.

Physical features

As for their physical features, the most visible aspect is skin color. Due to miscegenation, there are many shades that Afro-descendants have. It is worth noting that this ethnic group is broad and has subdivisions that in turn are classified into other races.

In order to recognize the variety of Afro-Colombians, it is necessary to take into account the development of their ancestors in the colonial territories, as well as the current position. For example, blacks from the Colombian coasts and those from the city have different physical and cultural traits.

Young man with Afro-Colombian features. Source: pixabay.com

The importance of Afro-Colombianism in Colombia

Thanks to Afro-Colombianity, the African and American continents are irrevocably linked. In addition, the cultural contributions of Afro-descendants in Colombia are invaluable from the religious, social and gastronomic sphere.

Afro-descendants have been in the South American country for more than a century and their population is increasing every day. According to the census of the National Statistics Office, there are a total of 2,950,072 Afro-Colombians in the entire territory, which represents 20% of the population, a significant percentage for the country's cultural progress.

Location

Afro-descendants are found in several sectors of the Colombian territory: the plains and valleys, where they mostly live with scarce resources and live on the periphery. Likewise, they have settled in the cities of Cali, Bogotá, Medellín, Santa Marta, Quibdó and Tumaco.

Gastronomy

In the gastronomic field, the most important contribution is the sancocho, a soup made with vegetables, beef, chicken or fish. Yam, banana, cassava and sweet pepper are also native to Africa. On the other hand, Santeria was one of the expressions that began to be practiced in the South American nation.

Religion

Yuyu is another of the religious contributions to today's culture, which is a kind of magic performed by Africans. In addition, the cumbia - an icon of Colombian national music - has its African roots and the drum was an instrument that they introduced to the country. In literature they also left a mark, since they created mythological poetry.

Other cultural manifestations

Among the particular manifestations, commemorations such as the Barranquilla Carnival and the festivities of the Virgen de la Candelaria stand out, where music and dances are representative of Africa. Many Colombians claim that the masks, colors, and rhythm of this culture fill people with life.

References

1. Artunduaga, Ly Enciso, P. (nd). Curricular guidelines series. Afro-Colombian Studies Chair. Retrieved on January 24, 2020 from the Ministry of National Education: mineducacion.gov.co
2. Jáuregui, D. (2018) How to recognize the diversity of Afro-Colombianity? Retrieved on January 25, 2020 from Signal Colombia: senalcolombia.tv
3. N. (sf). Afro-Colombians, a population with traces of Africanism. Retrieved on January 24, 2020 from the Ministry of Culture Republic of Colombia: mincultura.gov.co
4. N. (2013). Afro-Colombian culture: characteristics, gastronomy, art, and more. Retrieved on January 24, 2020 from Let's talk about cultures: hablemosdeculturas.com
5. N. (Sf). Geovisor, CNPV 2018. Ethnic-Black Group, mulatto, Afro-descendant, Afro-Colombian. Retrieved on January 24, 2020 from the National Statistics Office: geoportal.dane.gov.co
6. Uribe, M. (sf). A brief narrative of slavery in Colombia. Retrieved on January 24, 2020 from the Banco de la República Cultural Network in Colombia: banrepcultural.org