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Afro-Descendants in Bolivia Fight Invisibility With Dance and Memory

September 22, 2025

Afro-Bolivians, though officially recognized in the constitution since 2009, continue to struggle for visibility and acceptance in a country where they're often mistaken as foreigners despite being native Bolivians. Around 23,000 people identified as Afro in Bolivia's 2012 census, with most residing in the remote Yungas region where they depend on coca harvesting and honey production for their livelihoods. Despite some progress through the establishment of the Afro-Bolivian National Council (CONAFRO) in 2011 and the designation of a national day for Afro-Bolivian people, community leaders argue that symbolic recognition has not translated into meaningful structural change or accurate representation in educational curricula.

Who is affected

  • Afro-Bolivian people (approximately 23,000 according to the 2012 census)
  • Residents of the Yungas region, particularly in towns like Tocaña and Mururata
  • Julio Pinedo, the 83-year-old symbolic king of the Afro-Bolivians
  • Individual community members like Cielo Torres, Carmen Angola, Mónica Rey, and others involved in preserving their heritage
  • Afro-Bolivian children who grow up without seeing their history represented in educational materials

What action is being taken

  • CONAFRO is working to advocate for Afro-Bolivian rights and recognition
  • Carmen Angola is attempting to arrange for Afro-Bolivians to visit schools to share their community's insights, though without success so far
  • Community members are documenting and preserving their history through collective efforts, resulting in a comprehensive document released in 2013
  • Local women are maintaining religious traditions by leading Bible readings in the absence of a resident priest
  • Community members are preserving and performing "saya" dance and music as both cultural expression and political protest

Why it matters

  • Afro-Bolivians continue to be treated as foreigners in their own country despite constitutional recognition
  • The community's history has been systematically erased from official records, requiring self-documentation
  • Educational curricula do not include accurate representation of Afro-Bolivian history and culture
  • Symbolic recognition has not translated into structural changes or meaningful public policies
  • Cultural practices like the "saya" serve as both cultural preservation and political tools for visibility
  • The community's economic livelihood depends primarily on traditional agricultural practices like coca harvesting and honey production

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint