The African Diaspora
People of African origin living across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including descendants of the transatlantic slave trade and recent migrants.
- Transatlantic trade
- About 12.5 million people forced aboard ships, 1500s to 1860s
- African Union recognition
- Diaspora named the sixth region of the AU, 2003
The Atlantic crossing
Millions of Africans were taken to the Caribbean, Brazil and North America. Brazil today has the largest population of African descent outside Africa.
Cultural legacy
African rhythms, languages and spiritual traditions shaped jazz, blues, samba, reggae, hip-hop and Afrobeats, as well as foods and religions across the Americas.
Return and exchange
Movements such as Pan-Africanism linked struggles for freedom on both sides of the ocean. Today, programmes like Ghana's Year of Return invite descendants to reconnect, and the diaspora sends large remittances to African countries.