Many significant events and individuals in Afro-Mexican culture and history are often overlooked or misinterpreted. This project focuses on the culture and history of Afro-Mexicans and the country’s relationship to the African Diaspora as well as the complex Afro-Mexican cultures.
Afro-Mexicans make up a minor percentage of the overall population, while being one of Latin America's largest groups of people of African descent. The majority of the male Africans who were brought to Mexico as slaves by the Spanish also married into other ethnic groups, primarily Indigenous ones, creating a sizable mestizo, or mixed, population. Mexico's history, art, and modern culture all reflect the country's close ties to the African continent. The symbols selected have a fascinating history regarding Afro-Mexican customs and culture, which highlight the influences and lives of people who come from two distinct origins. These people combined elements of their Mexican and African ancestry to form their own identity and heritage as Afro-Mexicans.
Every symbol stands for a significant element of Afro-Mexican culture, vividly illuminating their history and traditions. The images displayed are tracings of images from Afro-Mexican cultural study, using various hand-drawn brushstrokes from Adobe Illustrator. The contrast between the brush strokes on these symbols is highlighted by the use of thin and thick brush strokes, as well as various stroke weights.
Vincente Guerrero
Coyolillo's Carnivals
Veracruz, Mexico
Cassava
Jarana
Sugar
"El Yanga"
Identity
Quijada
