Memory and ethnic leadership among Afro-descendants and Africans in Argentina

Abstract

Several academic studies on African and Afro-descendant population in Argentina have made reference to the ‘oblivion’ of the black component in the creation of an ethnically white and homogeneous national collective. The present work intends to rethink this issue in light of an Anthropology of the memory that promotes a critical analysis of the construction of an African past as diacritic of ethnic identification and interaction strategy related to the largest society, paying special attention to the actions of ethnic leaderships in the Afro community. In other words, we consider the processes of creation and validation of a social memory from an African origin by the ethnic entrepreneurs. For that purpose, we conduct a qualitative study employing the techniques characteristic of anthropological ethnography.

Keywords:

• social memory
• Afro-descendants
• African migrants
• Argentina

Notes

1. On melting pot in Argentina, see Schneider (1996).

2. See http://alejandrofrigerio.blogspot.com/.

3. According to James Brow ‘communalization’ refers to ‘any action pattern that promotes a shared feeling of belonging’ (1990, 1).

4. However, according to the last national census carried out in 2010, there are 2738 Africans and 149.493 Afro-descendants in Argentina.

5. Category that obtains the advisory by-laws of the United Nations in the frame of the World Conference against the Racism, the Racial Discrimination, the Xenophobia, and other correlative forms of Intolerance (Durban 2001).

6. See http://diafar.blogspot.com/.

7. See video in http://diafar.blogspot.com/ (CN23 Channel 2010).

8. The inverted commas correspond to the statements of Federico Pita (DIAFAR) and Carlos Alvarez (Africa and its Diaspora) in a programme broadcast by CN23 in 2010. See http://diafar.blogspot.com/.

9. A meeting organised by DIAFAR on 10 October 2010 in a bar in Palermo neighbourhood (Buenos Aires), it is about a local version that follows the world experience of the Black Family Reunions®.

10. According to DIAFAR blog, the meeting ‘intends to make us meet, know each other, and celebrate ourselves’. 19 January 2011. See http://diafar.blogspot.com/.