African Diaspora Information.

The irony is that cities like Hamburg and Berlin were former center of the Allied occupation forces after World War II. Recent immigration in both cities has caused the Afro-German population in those communities to massively increase. About 70,000 Afro-Germans live in Berlin. During the 1720's, Ghana born Anton Wilhelm Amo was sponsored by a German duke to become the first African to attend a European university; after completing his studies, he taught and wrote in philosophy. Many black people were victims of German slavery. That is why Germany and other European imperialism divided up Africa via the 1884 Berlin Conference.  Many black Germans were educated at universities while others were in other aspects of society. The Nama people in Africa were exterminated by Germany in 1907. Bernhard Bernburg promoted genocide of black people. This is a time to condemn murderers and celebrate the life of Afro-German people. Afro-German Ignatius Fortuna lived in the 1700’s. For an autobiography of an Afro-German in Germany under Nazi rule see Hans Massaquoi's book Destined to Witness. Steffi Jones is the President of the Organizing Committee of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and head coach of the Germany women's national football team from 2016 to 2018. Since 1981, many Nigerians, Ghanaians, other Africans came to Germany to study in German universities and live their own lives. The largest African groups in Germany came from Nigeria, Somalia, Ghana, Eritrea, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Togo, etc. Many Afro- Germans are known for writing literature like Esi Edugyan, Gayl Jones, etc. One political group that promotes the human rights of Afro-Germans is the Initiative of Black People (Initiative Schwarzer Deutscher). The ISD wants people to know about oppression in order to end discrimination. They send outreach to the government and the media of Germany. Zeca Schall is an Afro-German politician. Karamba Diaby is a member of the Bundestag. John Ehret was Germany’s first Afro-German mayor. Famous Afro-German artists are Ayo, Jessica Wahls, Lou Bega, Harris, etc. The SFD - Schwarze Filmschaffende in Deutschland (Black Artists in German Film, literally Black Filmmakers in Germany) is a professional association based in Berlin for directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors who are Afro-Germans or of Black African origin (and living in Germany). They have organized the "New Perspectives" series at the Berlinale film festival. Lelia Negra, Richard Adjei, Gerald Asamoah, Celia Sasic, and other people are Afro-German film stars and athletes.



There are tons of Afro-French people who made a difference in society. There are many Afro-Caribbean and Afro-French MPs in France. Roger Bambuck was the Minister of Youth and Sports from 1988 to 1991. Aime Cesaire was the mayor of Fort-de-France and deputy from Martinique for the PCF/Martinican Progressive Party. Blaise Diagne was the black African human being elected to the French Chamber of Deputies and the first to hold a position in the French government (of black African descent). Rama Yade was the former minister and Secretary of State. Laetitia Avia is the lawyer of Togolese descent, and she is member of the National Assembly for the 6th constituency of Paris since 2017. Danièle Obono, of Gabonese descent, is the MP for La France Insoumise representing the 17th Paris constituency since the legislative elections of 2017. Kemi Seba is a Pan-Africanist political leader. Rokhaya Diallo, is French journalist, of BET-France host, author, a filmmaker, and an activist for racial, gender and religious equality. Louis-Georges Tin fights for justice. Afro-French athletes include Tony Parker, Johan Petro, Isabelle Yacoubou, Isaia Cordinier, the late Raoul Diagne (1910-2002), Larbi Benbarek (1914-1992), Delphine Cascarino, Grace Geyoro, Viviane Asseyi, Christine Arron, Laura Flessel-Colovic, Yannick Noah, Vanessa James, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Teddy Riner, etc. Josephine Baker was an entertainer in France, and she loved the country. Fatou Diome is a best-selling and award-winning author of Senegalese origin. Aissa Maiga and Sonia Rolland are famous actresses of France. Imany is a famous woman singer in France. Helene and Celia Faussart or Les Nubians is a great Afro-French singing duo.

Afro-Spaniards have people with West/Central African descent. Autumi Toasije is a historian and pan-African activist who is Afro-Spanish. Juan Latino lived from 1518 to 1596. He was Afro-Spanish person and a black professor at Granada during the sixteenth century. His parents were black slaves. Juan Latino was a very intellectual person. He excelled in classical languages and music. He studied with the famous grammarian Pedro De Mota. Juan Latino received the degree of Bachelor. He was 28 years old at that time.  He was set free and in Granada, he received the Chair of grammar and Latin language of the Cathedral; he held that post for 20 years. Juan Latino wrote many forms of literature. Juan de Pareja lived in from 1606 to 1670. He was a painter. Many modern day Afro-Spanish entertainers are Virginia Buika, Concha Buika, the journalist Desiree Ndjambo, and other people. Rita Bosino and Dolores Johnson Sastre are Afro-Spanish politicians. Josephine Onyia, Yago Yao, Rodolfo Bodipo, and other Afro-Spanish athletes are famous.


Afro-Italian people live heavily in Rome, Milan, Turin, Palermo, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Florence. There has been an increase of 40 percent of migrants coming into Italy in 2017. Many of them arrived from Africa. There were many people in the era of ancient Rome. Roman writers described people with physical characteristics of sub-Saharan Africans as "Aethiopes", but the term carried no social implications. Elena Angione and Jean-Leonard Touadi are famous Afro-Italian leaders. Paolo Dal Molin was an athlete born in Cameroon. Edwige Gwend is a famous woman judoka born in Cameroon. One great track and field athlete who represents Italy and was born in Cote d’Ivoire is Audrey Alloh. Cecile Kyenge is a famous Afro-Italian politician. She is the Minister of Integration.



Afro-Caribbean culture in Jamaica is dominated by music like reggae, government institutions, art, and cuisine. Jamaican culture has a large, global influence. Marcus Garvey was born in Jamaica. Hip hop artists like Busta Rhymes, the late Heavy D, the late Notorious B.I.G. are of Jamaican descent. The reggae stars Peter Tosh and Bob Marley loved Jamaica too.  Roger Mais (1905 – 1955) was a journalist, a poet, and a playwright who wrote many short stories, plays, and novels, including The Hills Were Joyful Together (1953), Brother Man (1954), and Black Lightning (1955). The island is famous for its Jamaican jerk spice, curries and rice and peas which are integral to Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica is also home to Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Cricket is a staple of Jamaica (with players like George Headley, Courtney Walsh, and Michael Holding). Also, Jamaica is home to some of the greatest track and field athletes in human history. These men and women Jamaican track and field legends include people like Usain Bolt, Arthur Wint, Elaine Thompson, Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart, Aleen Bailey, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Yohan Blake, George Rhoden, Deon Hemmongs, Asafa Powell, Juliet Cuthbert, etc. Sanya Richards-Ross was born in Jamaica, and she represented America in the Olympics. Jamaica has also produced several world class amateur and professional boxers including Trevor Berbick and Mike McCallum. First-generation Jamaican athletes have continued to make a significant impact on the sport internationally, especially in the United Kingdom where the list of top British boxers born in Jamaica or of Jamaican parents includes Lloyd Honeyghan, Chris Eubank, Audley Harrison, David Haye, Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, Donovan "Razor" Ruddock, Mike Tyson, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose maternal grandfather is Jamaican. When you think about Jamaica, you think about massive cultural power.

 
By Timothy