The African diaspora refers to the many communities of people of African descent dispersed around the world as a result of historical movements. Most of the dispersal of Africans was the result of the Arab and Atlantic slave trades, the largest forced migrations in history. An estimated 11 million Africans were dispersed through the Atlantic slave trade from West Africa (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria) and Central Africa (e.g., Congo, Cameroon), and an estimated 10 to 80 million through the Arab slave trade… Despite the popular association with the United States, only 5% of African slaves went to the Americas, while the remaining 95% went to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Similar to African Americans, other Africans in the diaspora (e.g., Afro-Cubans, Afro-Brazilians, Afro-Costanians, etc.) face challenges in their own countries and share a common history.

The population of the African diaspora is 140 million, and the population of Africa is 1.2 billion. The most populous countries of the African diaspora include Brazil, Colombia, America, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. There is a connection between the descendants of slaves in the African diaspora because their ancestors came from similar areas of Africa and experienced a similar fate; slavery and colonization. In essence, they were taken to different countries around the world, cut off from each other and from their homeland.

African history does not begin with slavery, Africa’s contribution to the development of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, architecture, philosophy, civilization, etc. is largely ignored. For example, many prominent Greek philosophers spent years in Africa studying under African philosophers who had been practicing philosophy long before Greek philosophy came into being. Africa is home to many diverse countries and cultures, each with its own unique history. Many of Africa’s kingdoms are unknown; let’s take a look at some.

The silencing of Africa’s history and achievements was created to support its occupation, division, and colonization by European powers, known as the Scramble for Africa – the race for Africa’s resources and land.

For those in the African diaspora, coming to terms with their heritage and not knowing where in Africa they came from can be a painful experience. For example, an Afro-Cuban reflects on his history: “What tribe do I belong to?”, “Am I Nigerian?”, “Am I a Sierra Leonean?”
“Where is my family in Africa?”, “What is my African culture?”. She may never know because there were no records of slaves. She is cut off from her true African culture. She may never beat the drum of her ancestors, wear the regalia of her forefathers, experience the traditional land of her people, or dance to their traditional music. This realization can be very painful. At the same time, she is forced to embrace a new culture: a culture that once treated her as a commodity, a culture that has caused her so much pain, a culture that may or may not reject her.