Africa Latina 1999 "Live"

English Transcript: June 1999 KWHY-TV 22 Los Angeles

There are many words we use every day that in reality are not in the dictionary because we have integrated them to our culture. "Pachanga" comes from African origin, and it is the reason why (to honor this influence to our culture) I am wearing an African shirt.

Many of us are unaware of the African influence in our culture because we assume all races have always been segregated. Actually the first tribe that colonized, and moved, to the Iberian peninsula - where nowadays Spain is - was a tribe that migrated from North Africa called: Turdetani. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turdetani

Their race was dark because originally they were Africans, and was lightened later when people from the North also decided to move to the same place. Another African invasion to Spain changed and gave birth to its culture, which is the one we know today. It was in 1711 when the Moors who came from the North and West of Africa went up to this culture (region).

That is why when we go to a Cuban restaurant and order "moros y cristianos" (Moors and Christians) everyone understands we want black beans and white rice. Because they both made an important contribution to our culture. Also from the African languages we have "moreno" (dark person) which derives from Moor, the word "negro" (negroe) from "niger" from Latin of Nigeria, others like "conga" (the musical instrument) comes from Congo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negroe

"Pachanga" that we understand to mean "fiesta" (party), "bemba" meaning very thick lips, also "Radio Bemba" (word-of-mouth) which is our way of communicating. When we think about African culture and its influence on Latin culture we assume we are separated yet from the beginning of Spain Africans and their culture had great influence in what we know of Spain.

But it is not limited to Spain because we are not only from Spain, also in the Caribbean during the period of colonization when slaves, African slaves, arrived. It was then when many words we know today were created. Although there is another theory, since basically all these are theories, that African culture contributed also to prehispanic (precolombian) culture because the Olmecs - considered one of the mother Mesoamerican tribes of Central America - had a large African influence not only in their vocabulary but in the features of their monuments.

Here I brought a figure that will help you understand the "Olmecas" (Olmecs) that lived in the Yucatan region of modern Mexico. For example, they began to create this type of head, called "Cabeza Olmeca" and if you see its lips and features they are quite African looking. But these type of features existed in Asia, and there is a theory that we also have Asian influence (in our roots). We'll talk about that another day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec

So, remember the next time you go to a restaurant and order "moros y cristianos" or think you are the "cheche" of the movie (the most important person), you will realize that in spite of having many colors and influences, the African influence is one of the most important because it brought to Spain and to Europe all the process of urbanization, and libraries because it was under the Moors that Spain had libraries and museums, they were the precursors of culture and the Renaissance - due to the African influence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tite
• curet
• celia
• cruz
• latino
• africa
• hispano

[Synconize]

los olmecs no heran negros eran Indios en su forma mas antigua no hay evidencia que supporte el negro ante de columbus en america

[Borinquens]

Correcto. Por eso uso el termino 'teoria' no hecho. Es una de varias 'teorias' que existen sobre el origen de los nativos de America. La otra es que llegaron de Asia por el Estrecho de Bering entre Alaska y Rusia.

[Borinquens]

Pensamos igual.

[SuperJwalk]

i know this is a sensitve topic just think if the native american hadnt killed off then the black american would look more latino but the time europeans had arrived to the U.S they had already learned how to deal with the native americans and the africans because of their dealings in south america and haiti gaining their independence in 1804. If you dont believe me read the book about willie lynch a man who taught slave owners how to controll and hurt the minds of slaves

[SuperJwalk]

All i can say our story me being a black american and yours being latino is we were both exploited for the same purposes i am you and you are me their should be a national holliday honering both cultures people dont realize how big slavery was and how far slaves traveled to get to their destinations. Its not like slaves were shipped straight from africa to the U.S they were dropped off somewhere else then to the US so pick a island or south american country this is our story

[lovingit1000]

@peaches875 - It is ashame. Because we have eyes, we can't see. We are exactly the same people. If you haven't, you should watch The Human Family Tree on Youtube.

[peaches875]

@lovingit1000

It is said that (by scientist) if I remember correctly, that white and black in a cold climate produce the Asian race. back in my college days. Yes students were so taken about, oh no! what did you say, It's a shame people only think about race, wars and religion. Fuckin stupid.

[lovingit1000]

@Synconize

How can you be honest with anyone when you can't be honest with yourself? You have some major black African problems. Instead of fighting against something (even when it makes you sound stupid), why not search for the truth (even if you have to agree with what it is you are fighting against). Your goal is not to find the truth. Your goal is to try to disprove something. There is a difference between the two. Try working with an open mind. It would make you a better person.

[lovingit1000]

@Synconize

I suggest you re-read what I posted. You are so intent on fighting something that you don't bother to read things before you write something. I said Australian Aborigines and South Asians (specifically Dalit Indians) have a very common link. Please tell me where the Afrocentric stuff came in what I wrote?

[Synconize]

@lovingit1000 you really sound like a nut and thats because you do not know enough information to actually understand what I am saying you really are confused you should really learn more about the subject !

[Synconize]

@lovingit1000 Your like a neo nazi you use the same Philosaphies thinking that the world revolves around that one race and you seem to be quite sure that I have a problem with blacks ? I bet you can't find one thing that I have wrote that is prejudice, just facts !