African Fantasy, woodcut art by James Lesesne Wells (November 2, 1902 - January 20, 1993)
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DIASPORA?
The word "diaspora" was first used to describe the forced migration of the Jewish people from their homeland in the 6th century BCE. It has since been used to describe other mass migration or forced relocation instances.
Diaspora refers to a group of people living outside their original homeland, often sharing a national or regional origin.
Definition: DI-AS-PO-RA / noun. A dispersion of a people, language, or culture that was formerly concentrated in one place, to scatter, to displace, to live in separated communities.
The Diaspora EXPERIENCE
The diaspora experience presents a unique struggle. This is partly because navigating issues like identity, language barriers, and assimilation while maintaining an emotional attachment to your country of origin is challenging.
Examples of Diaspora Groups
The Jewish diaspora in 70 CE, when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem, led to widespread migration.
The Irish people experienced a diaspora due to famine and other poor conditions.
Syrian, Palestinian, and Armenian diasporas arose due to regional conflicts.
Polish communities were established in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom due to upheavals in the 18th century and World War II.
Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and other countries were severely impacted by the natural disaster of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Leaving your traditional homeland can be a traumatic experience. Navigating difficulties and unique struggles in your destination country while remaining connected to your home and cultural roots can be challenging.
Inhabitants in the new nation often outnumber the newly arriving diasporic populations.
There are different types of diasporas. The African diaspora comprised a voluntary and involuntary movement of the people of Africa and their descendants to various parts of the world. This occurred over several centuries.
The movement was both voluntary and involuntary.
In modern times, African migrants have sought better economic or educational opportunities in other countries. That movement is a voluntary diaspora.
Slavery was an involuntary movement of Africans.
Enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to various parts of the world.
This article explores the significance of diaspora within the context of African-American history and culture.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT of African-AMERICA diaspora
For over 2,000 years, humans have forced others into slavery in different parts of the world.
During the period between 1500 and 1900, many people from West Africa and West Central Africa were displaced and transported across the Atlantic under inhumane conditions by Europeans.
Africans were forcibly taken from their homeland and deprived of their true selves. They had professions like farming, trading, and music-making and held roles as soldiers. They were family members - spouses, parents, and children, torn from their loved ones. They might have been part of ethnic communities such as the Yoruba, Igbo, Akan, or Kongolese.
European slavers transported Africans across the Americas to lead lives of degradation and brutality. Millions died in the process.
The journey across the Atlantic is called the Middle Passage. The sail took 6 to 8 weeks. Once in the Americas, Africans were offloaded and sold for labor.
The ships then returned to Europe with goods such as sugar, coffee, tobacco, rice, and later cotton, which had been produced by enslaved labor.
European Transatlantic Triangle
The European transatlantic triangle was commonly known as the triangular trade. As part of the Atlantic slave trade, it was a detailed system that facilitated the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
European ships would sail to Africa, loaded with guns, cloth, and alcohol. These goods were traded for enslaved Africans and then transported across the Atlantic.
Once in the Americas, the enslaved individuals were sold.
The ships would then return to Europe, loaded with American goods. These goods primarily included sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee, which were highly sought after in Europe.
That completed the triangle.
New England Triangle Trade
The New England triangle trade was a subset of the more extensive transatlantic trade system but had distinct characteristics. Colonies in North America were part of the trade process instead of Europe.
New England ships often set sail to the West African coast carrying barrels of rum, a product of the region's burgeoning distilleries.
This rum was traded for enslaved Africans and transported to the West Indies. In the Caribbean, these enslaved individuals were traded for molasses and sugar, which were brought back to New England.
Once back in New England, molasses produced more rum, thus perpetuating the cycle.
New England also traded fish, livestock, and lumber to the West Indies in exchange for fruits, spices, and other goods not readily available in the colder northern colonies.
The colonists in the Americas also made direct slaving voyages to Africa, which did not follow the triangular route. This trade increased after 1800, mainly from Brazil.
The transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas, lasted over 400 years.
As a result, people of African descent are dispersed throughout the Americas and Western Europe. This is called the African Diaspora.
Populations in the diaspora frequently maintain strong cultural ties to their homeland and community members.
CULTURAL RETENTION AND TRANSFORMATION
African Americans have shown remarkable resilience in preserving their African heritage despite facing numerous challenges and adversities.
The fusion of African and American cultures birthed unique African-American traditions, especially in music, arts and crafts, dance, storytelling, food, religion and spirituality, language, and hair and fashion.
Music
African rhythms and melodies found their way into spirituals, blues, jazz, and gospel music. Call-and-response patterns and specific scales can be traced back to African traditions.
The call-and-response patterns, deeply rooted in African musical traditions, became a hallmark of many African-American songs.
Arts and Crafts
African-American quilting, for instance, has been linked to African textile arts. Patterns, symbols, and techniques in various crafts often draw inspiration from African traditions.
This African-American quilt was created by Mary Jane Lewis Scruggs, born 1866.
The quilter was Mary Jane Lewis Scruggs, born in Missouri in 1866 to formerly enslaved people. Scruggs' family were early settlers in Nicodemus, Kansas, a small town settled by a group of freed African Americans around 1877.
In art, the vibrant colors and patterns merged with American styles, resulting in distinctive visual narratives that told stories of both struggle and triumph. This cultural amalgamation celebrated African heritage while reflecting the African-American experience in a new land.
Dance
Traditional African dances have influenced many African-American dance forms. The "ring shout," a circular, rhythmic dance done during worship, originates in West African dance.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre performs legendary Alvin Ailey's Revelations in Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in 2011.
Storytelling
The African tradition of oral history and storytelling continues in African-American culture. Griots, or storytellers, in Africa, were revered as keepers of history, and this tradition of storytelling remains alive in African-American literature and spoken word performances.
Food
Black-Eyed Peas
Foods like black-eyed peas, okra, and certain rice dishes eaten in Africa were incorporated into American diets.
Many Southern dishes, now considered staples in African-American cuisine, have roots in African cooking.
Religion and Spirituality
While many African Americans adopted Christianity, elements of African spirituality were woven into their religious practices. This can be seen in the more animated worship styles, rituals, and ceremonies.
Language
Elements of African languages were preserved in the Gullah dialect spoken on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. Words like "gumbo" (from the Bantu word for okra) and "banjo" (from the Kimbundu word mbanza) have African origins.
Hair and Fashion
Braiding patterns, dreadlocks, and other hairstyles have roots in African traditions.
Like kente cloth, African fabrics are worn proudly, especially during celebrations or ceremonies.
These examples showcase the enduring spirit of African Americans in preserving and celebrating a rich heritage, even in the face of challenges.
THE GREAT MIGRATION
The Great Migration, which occurred between 1916 and 1970, was a significant movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. This migration profoundly affected African-American identity and further shaped the concept of diaspora within the United States.
Here are some examples of its impact:
Urbanization of Black America
Before the Great Migration, 90% of African Americans lived in the South. By its end, most lived in the North, West, and South urban areas, transforming the demographic landscape.
Cultural Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s directly resulted from the Great Migration.
Cities like New York became epicenters for Black art, literature, and music, with figures like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston leading the way.
Music
The migration played a role in the spread and evolution of Black music. Jazz, blues, and later, R&B and hip-hop found larger audiences and new influences in the North.
Economic Opportunities
Moving North allowed African Americans better job opportunities, especially in the industrial sector. This shift provided a chance for economic advancement.
Political Mobilization
The increased concentration of African Americans in Northern cities gave them more political influence. The Black vote became crucial for politicians, leading to better representation and advocacy for African-American rights.
Religious Evolution
The migration led to the growth of Black churches in the North, which became community centers and platforms for civil rights activism. New religious movements, like the Nation of Islam, also took root.
Family Dynamics
The migration often involved breaking up families initially, with some members moving North while others stayed behind.
Over time, complex family networks spread across the country, emphasizing the diasporic experience and blending Southern and Northern Black cultural practices.
Reconceptualizing Diaspora
The Great Migration added another layer to the African-American diaspora narrative. It wasn’t just about the journey from Africa to America and the internal movement within the U.S.; it was about searching for better opportunities and freedom from oppression.
Shift in Racial Identity — “The New Negro”
Essentially, the North provided an environment for African Americans to break free from the restrictive roles and stereotypes of the South.
In the North, African Americans found an opportunity to escape the South’s pronounced racial discrimination and redefine their identity.
This shift gave rise to the “New Negro" concept, emphasizing self-respect, independence, and equality.
The term was popularized during the Harlem Renaissance by Alain Locke, who highlighted a renewed sense of African-American identity and pride in the 1920s.
Locke’s anthology, “The New Negro,” showcased this transformative period, making the term central to cultural discussions of the era.
The Great Migration was a period of change that reshaped the African-American experience, identity, and the very concept of diaspora within the U.S.
MODERN INTERPRETATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS
The African-American diaspora, with its rich tapestry of experiences, emotions, and histories, has been an endless source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians.
These modern interpretations explore identity, belonging, and cultural fusion.
Here are some examples:
Emancipation Group by Meta Warrick Fuller
Artist Meta Warrick Fuller (June 9, 1877 – March 13, 1968) created the statue Emancipation Group in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the abolishment of slavery.
The figures symbolize race, fate, and humanity. Abraham Lincoln or a former owner is not liberating them. They are freeing themselves.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
In Invisible Man, writer Ralph Ellison (March 1, 1913 – April 16, 1994) follows an anonymous Black protagonist on a journey from South to North, facing the challenge of being invisible in a society that fails to acknowledge his humanity.
Ellison explores Black identity in America, assimilation, and the difficulty of self-discovery in a society that marginalizes and devalues Black lives.
"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" by Nina Simone
Singer Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon. Her song “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” emphasizes self-pride and celebrates Black identity and the potential of Black youth.
Her songs offer an unapologetic exploration of the joys, pains, and hopes within the African-American diaspora and continue to inspire and resonate with listeners.
Exploring the African-American diaspora through the arts honors the rich heritage and challenges of the diasporic experience.
THE CONNECTION TO AFRICA
The Pan-African movement arose in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a response to the colonization and exploitation of Africa. The movement strived to bring together people of African descent from around the world.
Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Kwame Nkrumah, leaders of the day, advocated for the rights and freedom of all African nations.
They acknowledged that Black people everywhere faced unfair treatment and racism.
They believed that by uniting, they could stand against colonial rule, racial discrimination, and oppression.
The Pan-African Congresses assembled activists, thinkers, and leaders across the African diaspora.
They held meetings throughout the 1900s to discuss ways to help African countries gain freedom from European rule so these countries could then make laws for themselves.
They discussed political and economic unity and the shared culture, beliefs, and history of Africa and its people.
DNA testing has allowed individuals to trace their ancestral lineage back to specific regions or tribes in Africa.
Lately, there has been a renewed interest among people of African descent to reconnect with their roots and learn more about their ancestors.
Thanks to new technology from companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe, people can now find out where their family came from in Africa and better understand their African heritage.
Heritage tourism has gained popularity. In 2019, Ghanan promoted the “Year of Return” to commemorate the 400th year since the first enslaved Africans were taken to America.
This program encourages people with African roots to visit Ghana and learn more about where their ancestors came from.
Such initiatives invite descendants of the African diaspora to visit, explore, and reconnect with the land of their ancestors.
Many people who go on these trips feel a solid connection to Africa. They come to understand and value the different cultures, traditions, and stories that are part of the African background.
These trips often prove to be not only informative but transformative. Travelers gain a sense of belonging and a deeper appreciation for the cultures, traditions, and histories that make up the African diaspora.
THE GLOBAL AFRICAN DIASPORA
The African diaspora represents millions of people of African descent. People who relocated by choice or force.
Caribbean nations, which include Jamaica, Trinidad, and Haiti, are part of the diaspora.
The Latin American diaspora includes Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.
The European diaspora comprises the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Caribbean
Around 5 million enslaved Africans were transported to the Caribbean, of which nearly half were brought to the British Caribbean, totaling 2.3 million. The Caribbean is a melting pot of cultures, and the influence of African heritage is especially prominent.
The legacy of the African diaspora is deeply embedded in the fabric of its societies. This is evident in the traditions and customs of daily life. Islands like Jamaica, Trinidad, and Haiti have rich African influences in their music, dance, food, and religious practices.
Jamaica is an excellent example of African traditions celebrating life's joys and sorrows. Reggae music, deeply rooted in African musical traditions, originated there.
Bob Marley, born Nesta Robert Marley OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981), one of the most famous reggae musicians, often infused his songs with themes of African unity and identity.
Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” was influenced by a speech given by the Pan-Africanist speaker Marcus Garvey in Nova Scotia in October 1937.
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds." - This poignant verse in the song is a direct quote from Marcus Garvey's speech.
Trinidad is well-known for its vibrant and colorful carnivals. These annual celebrations, filled with music, dance, and elaborate costumes, originated in the African festivals brought to the island by enslaved people.
The Calypso music, integral to the Trinidadian carnival, carries stories and messages, much like the oral storytelling traditions of West Africa.
Haiti offers another rich tapestry of African influence. It combines elements of West African religions with Taino practices and Catholicism. Vodou ceremonies, with their drumming, chanting, and dancing, are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of African traditions in new environments.
In essence, the Caribbean, with its diverse islands, is a living testament to the enduring and evolving legacy of the African diaspora.
LATIN AMERICA
Similarly, in Latin America, countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela have significant Afro-Latinx populations.
Brazil, in particular, received the largest number of enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade.
It is estimated that 5.5 million Africans were forcibly transported to Brazil.
As a result of this extensive history of the slave trade, Brazil today has the second-largest Black population in the world after Nigeria.
The influence of African culture is deeply embedded in Brazilian society, evident in its music (like samba and bossa nova), dance (such as capoeira), religion (including practices like Candomblé), and cuisine.
Today, the African influence is visible in Brazilian samba music, capoeira martial arts, and the Candomblé religion.
EUROPE
Europe, too, has seen an increasing African presence, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal, which have historical ties to African nations due to colonialism.
African immigrants and their descendants have contributed significantly to cultural and social landscapes.
The diaspora has left a remarkable influence, from Afrobeat music gaining popularity in London clubs to African-inspired fashion trends in Paris.
Despite the geographical distances and diverse local cultures, the global African diaspora remains interconnected through shared histories, experiences, and a resilient spirit that transcends borders.
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT
Available Books on African and African-America Folktales
Nobles, Wade W. The Infusion of African and African-American Content: A Question of Content and Intent. https://www.nuatc.org/articles/pdf/Nobles_article.pdf.
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Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans: A History Paperback – Illustrated. 1997.
Adi, Hakim. Pan-Africanism: A History.
“Pan-Africanism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica.
“Bob Marley - Redemption Song Lyrics | Lyrics.Com.” Lyrics.Com.
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