AfroLatin

AfroLatin is a term used to describe people, cultures, and artistic expressions arising from the African diaspora within Latin American and Caribbean contexts. It is not a single ethnicity but a broad set of identities that reflect African heritage blended with Indigenous, European, and other influences across the region. The term is sometimes written AfroLatin, AfroLatinx, or Afrodescendant in different languages and communities.

Geographically, AfroLatin identities are particularly visible in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, while notable communities exist across Venezuela, Peru, Panama, and other Latin American countries. Population data for AfroLatin groups vary by country due to different census methods and classifications, and many people identify with multiple heritages or with diverse combinations of race, ethnicity, and nationality.

AfroLatin culture encompasses music, dance, religion, cuisine, and literature that blend African-derived traditions with Indigenous and European influences. Musical forms associated with AfroLatin heritage include samba, rumba, salsa, bachata, and cumbia, among others. Religious practices such as Candomblé, Santería, and Umbanda illustrate syncretic traditions. Visual arts and storytelling often address memory, resistance, and identity in diasporic communities.

Scholars and activists discuss AfroLatin within broader Afro-Latin American studies, emphasizing intersections with class, gender, migration, and indigeneity. Representation in media, politics, and education remains uneven, which has spurred efforts to document histories, celebrate contributions, and advocate for more inclusive narratives.

See also: Afro-Latinx; Afro-Latin American studies; Afro-diaspora; race and ethnicity in Latin America.