African Origins of Afro-Colombians / Origines Africanos de

los AfroColombianos
The Afro-Colombian population has its roots in various parts of the African continent. With this
video from the National Museum of Colombia, we are better able to understand the African
origins of Afro-Colombians. The video, along with this handout, traces the origins of the
various groups of people of African descent in Colombia; namely, the origins of the black,
afrocolombian, raizal and palenquera communities. The information printed below is
translated from excerpts of the Museum's catalogue for the "Velorios Y Santos: comunidades
negras, afrocolombianas, raizales y palenqueras" exhibition.

Los Afrocolombianos tienen sus races en varias partes del continente Africano. Con este
video, del Museo Nacional de Colombia, podemos entender mejor de donde en frica vienen
los Afrocolombianos. Junto con el video, este folleto nos da a conocer los origines de los varios
afrodescendientes de Colombia; especficamente los origines de las comunidades negras,
afrocolombianas, raizales y palenqueras. Esta versin es revisada del catalogo de la
exposicin "Velorios Y Santos: comunidades negras, afrocolombianas, raizales y palenqueras".

Ethnic Origins of the Africans taken to Cartagena 1533-1580

Orgenes tnicos de los africanos llegados a Cartagena de Indias 1533-1580

In the regions north of El Cauca we find the

Zape people, along with the Balanta,
Berbes, Bifara,
Bran & Serere, who came from the area
encompassing modern day Guinea Bissau
and Sierra Leone. Also brought during this
time were the Yolofo and Mande or
Mandinga who were from modern day
Senegal and Mali. Their ancestors converted
to Islam and most likely educated their
illiterate Spanish masters. The Bijago, who
resided on islands adjacent to Guinea
Bissau, were also brought at this time. They
were battle-hardened shipmen who rebelled
at the loss of their freedom and, as soon as
they descended from the slave ships,
escaped and created palenques - free black
communities that were never enslaved.
Through the end of the 18th century, the
Bijago freed slaves throughout the region of
Cauca, Magdalena and the Pacific.

En los municipios de la zona plana del norte

del Cauca hallamos gente Zape junto con los
Balanta,
Berbes, Bifara, Bran y Serere, procedentes
de la zona que se extiende desde Guinea
Bisseau hasta Sierra Leona. Por esa poca
vinieron de Senegal y Mal los Yolofo y los Mande o Mandinga, cuyos antepasados se haban
convertido al Islam en el siglo XII. Es probable que estos letrados, recitadores del Corn,
hubieran ayudado a educar a los
espaoles analfabetos que los trajeron como parte de sus menajes domsticos. Tambin
llegaron los Bijago, de las islas del mismo nombre, frente a Guinea Bisseau. Eran navegantes
aguerridos, quienes se rebelaron contra la prdida de la libertad y tan pronto descendieron de
los navos, escaparon, hicieron palenques, reclutaron a otros inconformes y hasta finales del
siglo XVII libraron rebeliones que propagaron por los valles del Cauca, Magdalena y litoral
Pacfico.
 Ethnic Origins of the Africans taken to Cartagena 1580-1640
Orgenes tnicos de los africanos llegados a Cartagena de Indias 1580-1640

During these years we see the arrival of the nzico, Kongo, Manicongo & Ngola people who
come from the Bantu linguistic family which resided in the basin of the Congo River. The
Bantu were probably the most numerous slave population brought to Colombia. The majority
were brought between 1580 and 1640 when the Spanish thought that the Bantu's knowledge
of the forest and acclimation to humid climates would be useful when penetrating the jungles
south of Cauca and the Pacific. The Bantu had a highly developed philosophical system called
"Muntu" that weaves humans with their ancestors and nature.

En estos aos vemos la llegada de gente nzico, Kongo, Manicongo y Ngola, entre otros
miembros de la gran familia lingstica Bant, proveniente de la cuenca del ro Congo. Los
bantes quizs fueron los cautivos ms numerosos durante la trata esclavista. Llegaron
masivamente desde 1580 hasta 1640, cuando los espaoles se valieron de sus conocimientos
acerca del bosque sper hmedo para penetrar las selvas del bajo Cauca y del Pacfico. Se
haban formado en el Muntu, la filosofa que teje a los humanos con sus antepasados y con la
naturaleza.
Ethnic Origins of the Africans taken to Cartagena 1640-1810
Orgenes tnicos de los africanos llegados a Cartagena de Indias 1640-1810

The Africans who arrived between 1640 and

1810 believed that their ancestors were
eternal. They were the Mina and they were
from modern day Ghana and the Ivory
Coast. Members of the Akan linguistic family
which includes the Ashanti, Fanti, Baule,
Arara, Ewe and Fon, the Mina were exported
from Saint George in Elmina (located in
modern day Ghana) towards the Caribbean
islands, explaining their notable influence in
the islands of San Andres, Providence and
Saint Catalina. After being sent again to
Cartagena, they cooperated in the
development of auriferous - gold harvesting
- districts such as the district of Barbacoas,
located south of the Pacific coast, and the
districts of Citara and Novita in the north.

Los africanos desembarcados desde 1640 hasta 1703 creen que sus ancestros siguen vivos.
Los llamaban Mina y eran de Ghana y Costa de Marfil. Miembros de la familia lingstica Akn,
incluyendo a los Ashanti, Fanti, Baul, Arar, Ew y Fon, los exportaron desde el fuerte de San
Jorge en Elmina (en la actual Ghana) hacia el Caribe insular, lo cual explica su notable
influencia en San Andrs, Providencia y Santa Catalina. Luego de ser reenviados a Cartagena,
coadyuvaron en la consolidacin de distritos aurferos como los de Barbacoas, al sur del litoral
Pacfico, o Citar y Nvita, al norte.