Mar 29, 2009 rumored to be of royal lineage from west africa, yanga was an enslaved worker in the sugarcane plantations of veracruz, mexico. Gaspar yanga was a african prince forced into slavery by the spanish and relocated to new spain where he. Yanga, african abolitionist and rebel in mexico african. The first african slaves were brought to mexico in 1519 by hernan cortes and some were granted their freedom and rewarded with land because of. Majority mexicans are inclined to believe that the african slaves in mexico either died off or were absorbed into the population during the colonial era. Yanga was one of the many enslaved people brought over from west africa and forced to work in the spanish sugar plantations in new spain mexico. First, he, not obama, is the first man of african heritage to be elected president of a north american country. Gaspar yanga was born in 1545 in west africa and was a member of the royal family of africa s gabon. The legacy of african slavery in colonial mexico, 1519. Mexico abolished slavery a third of a century before the u. As a single population, afromexicans includes individuals descended from spanish colonial era transatlantic african slaves brought to mexico, as well as others of more recent immigrant african descent, including afrodescended persons from neighboring english, french, and spanishspeaking countries of the caribbean and central america. Africans in mexico left their cultural and genetic imprint everywhere they lived.
Black african roots in veracruz, mexico mexico vacation tours. He led one of the most successful slave rebellions. For this purpose, we carried out the genetic characterization of 60 individuals from. Mexico never became a slavery society, but its economy did use slaves for many years during the colonial period. Over a century before their arrival in 1570 an african slave revolt had occurred in the veracruz region of mexico, led by gaspar yanga. In states such as veracruz, guerrero, and oaxaca, the. Yanga, on mexico s gulf coast, is a sleepy pueblito founded by its namesake, gaspar yanga, an african slave who led a rebellion against his spanish colonial masters in the late 16th century and fought off attempts to retake the settlement. It is among the first free african settlements in the americas after the start of the european slave trade. But in the caribbean statesand particularly in veracruz, where the conquest of mexico beganthe african slaves and their descendants have played a significant role. Cartagena was one of the principal ports of entry for hundreds of thousands of african slaves brought to the new world to work mainly in the gold and silver. Spanish traders took african slaves to colonial mexico early in the 16th century, long before the first slaves arrived in the british colonies of north america. He was said to be of chiefly ancestry and a member of the yangbara people of the modern country of gabon.
In 1570, before the first slaves were brought to the united states, gaspar yanga, an african slave from gabon, rebelled against his spanish master and escaped to the mountains of the state of. The present study aims to outline the genetic makeup of the current population of the town of yanga veracruz state, mexico, the first latin american settlement founded by african slaves in mexico. For nearly 500 years, the existence and contributions of the african descendents in mexico have been overlooked. Exhibit explores african slavery and rebellion in mexico. He is known for successfully resisting a spanish attack on the colony in 1609.
I had only just learned about afromexicans, the isolated descendants of mexicos original slaves, who reside on the countrys rural pacific and gulf coasts. Jun 21, 2016 the true african slavery history in mexico from a local native americanspanish only. African roots in veracruz, mexico mexico vacation tours. More than a million people in mexico are descended from african slaves and identify as black, dark or afromexican even if.
The slave route project, unesco 1 africans and afrodescendants in mexico and central america. The global african mexican afrodescendants youtube. On this unique 8 day journey throughout the gulf coast state of veracruz, you will learn about the history of. In january 1609, the viceroy of spain sent royal troops to crush yanga s rebels. Over the approximately three hundred years it lasted, the slave trade brought about 200,000 africans to the colony. Use the link below to share a fulltext version of this article with your friends and colleagues. The heritage of africans in mexico after christopher columbus is a rarely explored topic in the history books of the americas. He was captured in war and sold into slavery, eventually being forced to work against his will in new spain, part of which is now called mexico. The history of the rebellion of yanga, the african slave who led the first insurrection against spanish colonial rule in what is now mexico almost two centuries before the country became. Gaspar yangaoften simply yanga or nyanga may 14, 1545 was an african known for being the leader of a maroon colony of slaves in the highlands near veracruz, mexico then new spain during the early period of spanish colonial rule. Mexico has a rich history of antislavery rebellions and the country was a destination of the underground railroad. Aug 11, 2014 afromexicans mexicanos negros are mexicans who are mostly of african ancestry. African slavery in latin america and the caribbean by herbert. In 1570 he, along with a group of followers, escaped, fled to the mountainous regions near cordoba, and established a settlement of former slaves or palenque.
Dec 18, 2015 the presence of afromexicans blacks in mexico contrary to common knowledge, particularly among mexicans and mexicanamericans, is that mexico, like other latinamerican nations, have african blood as well as indigenous and spanish. Afro mexico the legend of gaspar yanga narrated by monroe brock. In protest, they continually resisted this unjust system of slavery. The town was named for gaspar yanga, a slave who had led a successful rebellion against the spanish in the 16th century. The most memorable war, fought by gaspar yanga, a slave from gabon, led to a revolt and a new found mountain civilization. Mexico is commonly thought of as the meeting place of the spanish and native mexican worlds. Not keeping up with technology is an excellent path to becoming a slave. It makes sense that runaway slaves taking refuge within mexicos hills and mountains in 1570 would have settled and remained there through today. Gaspar yangaoften simply yanga or nyanga may 14, 1545 was an african known for being the leader of a maroon colony of slaves in the highlands near. African slavery in latin america and the caribbean currently serves as one of the best sources for material on slavery in the americas that can be included in their lectures. More than a million people in mexico are descended from african slaves and identify as black, dark or afromexican even if they dont look black.
Almost a century after africans arrived in mexico in 1519, yanga, an african leader, founded the first free african township in the americas january 6, 1609. He was the founder of the town yanga, located in the veracruz region of mexico, between the port of veracruz and cordoba. Aug 30, 2015 gaspar yangaoften simply yanga or nyanga was an african leader of a maroon colony of fugitive slaves in the highlands near veracruz, mexico during the early period of spanish colonial rule. The african descendants of mexico tia stephanie tourstia. However, it is unlikely that people will reference afromexican culture. When yanga and his followers founded their settlement, the population of mexico city consisted of approximately 36,000 africans, 116,000 persons of african ancestry, and only 14,000 europeans. The maroons continued their raids on spanish settlements. In the late 1500s more slaves rose and fled to these mountains. Theoretically, with the arrival of europeans, that should have changed.
The second thing that is immediately evident to vistors who reach. Exploring the african genetic influence in the first. Slave leader and governor of first free settlement for africans in the americas gaspar yanga escaped from slavery shortly after being brought to. Mexicos black president abolished slavery before u. Mexico was home to one of the largest populations of enslaved africans in the 1600s. Dec 31, 2017 the prevailing theory of how blackmexicans arrived in the costa chica is underscored by the saga of 16thcentury african freedom fighter, gaspar yanga. Miguel hidalgo priest, abolition of all casts, independent war of mexico. Many blacks were born in mexico and followed their parents into slavery. The colony secured other provisions by raiding spanish caravans. Rumored to be of royal lineage from west africa, yanga was an enslaved worker in the sugarcane plantations of veracruz, mexico. Over time their mulatto blackeuropean descendants were also enslaved if born to slave mothers as was typical. A short while ago a mexican engineer, himself of african descent, told me adamantly that the countrys blacks were the descendants of escaped slaves from north america and cuba. Gaspar yanga texas institute for the preservation of history and. Historians write that guerreros paternal grandfather was either a slave himself or descended from african slaves.
Founder of yanga very first town founded by free blacks, runaway slave, revolutionary, freed himself from oppression. This lack of knowledge about mexico s african peoples has not changed much over time. I am a journalist living in mexico city and i had decided to take a trip to veracruz, where hundreds of thousands of african slaves had been brought by spanish colonialists five centuries prior. Africans in california under rule of spain, mexico and the. Sage reference gaspar yangas maroon society, veracruz, mexico.
From the colonial era to present, we learn how the people and communities of african descent helped shaped mexicos past and continue to express traditions in art, dance, music and food that reflect their heritage. Each week on the global african host bill fletcher, jr. No longer do they see themselves as mandinga, wolof, ibo, bakongo, or members of other african ethnic groups. Blacks were present as slaves of the spaniards as early as the 1520s. Yango led raids along the camino real pass between veracruz and mexico city. Sep 21, 2019 spain presentday mexico, in, gaspar yanga led the escape of his fellow slaves into nearby mountains. Gaspar yanga founded the first free african township in the americas in 1609. Veracruz had the largest enslaved population in mexico during this time. While a number of indigenous people were enslaved during the conquest period, later the colonists imported african slaves. According to the reports of the first europeans to visit the new world, slavery was almost universal in what is now mexico and central america. Gaspar yanga often simply yanga or nyanga may 14, 1545 was an african known for being the leader of a maroon colony of slaves in the highlands near veracruz, mexico then new spain during the early period of spanish colonial rule. In the mid1500s, yanga became a slave and was transported to new spain, modernday veracruz, mexico.
These fugitives, he proudly proclaimed, had sought and found sanctuary in free mexico. I wanted to visit yanga, a place that called itself the first free slave town in the americas. In states such as veracruz, guerrero, and oaxaca, the descendants of africas children still bear the evidence of their ancestry. Africans and afrodescendants in mexico and central. Pdf exploring the african genetic influence in the first. Although veracruz is thought to have the largest black population in mexico due its history as an important slave port, this is no longer the case. Africans and afrodescendants in mexico and central america. Not until 1829 was the institution abolished by the leaders of the newly independent nation. Escaped slaves added to the overwhelming numbers in the cities, establishing communities in oaxaca as early as 1523. Join us on an extraordinary journey to learn of the african descendants in mexico. Brought to mexico in chains, gaspar yanga and his followers staged.
Mexico s afrodescendant population for years has been virtually invisible. Of the over one million casualties during the mexican war of independence, most of. From yanga to the present exhibition writes, paintings with blacks, mulattos and other mixes with blacks show violent scenes. Prior to european travels to the americas, the olmec are among the oldest known civilization that resided and governed the territories now known as mexico and california. Throughout the colonial period this included the formation of fugitive slave set tlements, attempts. Gaspar yanga is one of the neglected figures within african history in the americas. Afromexicans who used to be found in every part of mexico now exists in certain parts of mexico such as the costa chica of oaxaca and guerrero, veracruz and in some cities in northern mexico. He was an african abolitionist and a leader of a slave rebellion in mexico during the early period of spanish colonial rule. Aug 08, 2018 although little is known about the history of african slavery in mexico, its important to keep in mind that even though the majority of mexicans do not have any african ancestry, a small percentage of mexicans in veracruz and oaxaca states have b. Yangas settlement of runaway slaves in spanish, a palenque evolved into a. Gaspar yanga, also simply known as yanga or nyanga, was born circa 1545. Dec 27, 2016 gaspar yanga is one of the neglected figures within african history in the americas. Veracruz, campeche, panuco and acapulco were the main ports for the entrance of african slaves. Colonial mexico had the highest numbers of african slaves.