African HeritageMuseo de Las Américas
Cradle of humanity
When visitors enter the exhibit, the murals remind them of the colors of the desert.
The informative wall panels describe not just the empires that arose in Africa, the first in the history of mankind, but also the western areas of the continent where most of the slaves kidnapped to Puerto Rico by the slave trade, active from the very start of colonization.
In Senegal there were the Wolofs, Mandingas, Biafada, and Fula; in Sierra Leone there were the Canga; on the Gold Coast, the Farti; and in Nigeria, the Yoruba.
Later came the Congo peoples and the Angolans from Equatorial Africa, and finally, the Zambos and Mozambos from Mozambique.
Throughout the American continent, in greater or lesser degree, the African heritage is evident. This heritage, both from the biological and cultural point of view, it's very important and significant.
Ancient craftsmanship
The art of metallurgy was practiced by craftsmen who enjoyed great prestige in society and those who transmitted the secrets of his art from generation to generation. In the African societies, the blacksmith was "The lord of metals and fire".
African Heritage 2Museo de Las Américas
Everyday life and government
The first display cases hold objects and artifacts belonging to the African cultures per se. They are intended to illustrate the use of metals, the adornment of the body, daily life, war and hunting, governance.
The objects here are impressive, beautiful, or curious. Among them are two enormous clubs, to denote the power of kingship. Other objects depict the daily life: spoons, baskets, looms and such.
Daily life revolved around the family, farming, caring for animals, hunting and fishing, as well as participation in elaborate rituals and celebrations.
A way of life
Some peoples of Central and West Africa retain traditional customs that manifest in their magical rituals, utensils and objects of the everyday life, including, baskets, knives, plates, spoons and other metal and wooden objects.
African Heritage 3Museo de Las Américas
Music, celebrations and rituals
Music and dance represent one of the most important aspects of African heritage in the Caribbean. The life of the societies of the central and western region is intimately linked to music and dance.
You are born and die with music and ritual dances. African kings and chiefs keep in their court musical ensembles that have the responsibility of accompanying the different activities that are celebrated.
Among the musical instruments are an African harp which resembles a home-made mandolin, and also a "peaking drum." From these objects one can draw some idea of the enormous cultural richne
African Heritage 4Museo de Las Américas
A cruel and unfair journey
A passageway leads visitors into other spaces that offer a very different vision.
Between what is exhibited in the first display cases and in the last, there is one fundamental fact: the massive crossing of the Atlantic, the journey in a slave ship that transported black men, women, and children from one continent to another under subhuman conditions.
The ship model here shows the bodies arranged in parallel or perpendicular lines in the ships' holds. Unless one looks closely, the bodies might be mistaken for some sort of bundled merchandise.
But these were men, women, and children who were immobilized and forced to undergo the long and difficult transit.
Nearby display cases contain artifacts used to restrain their movements and force them to work: a scourge, or lash and iron cuffs that could be locked with a key.
African Heritage 6Museo de Las Américas
Colorful rhythms
The last space in this permanent exhibit displays objects related to the contributions of that forced immigration of black Africans.
There are musical instruments -tambourines, maracas, gourd guiros, marimbas, bongos- and references to the contribution of black culture to Puerto Rican cuisine, art, music, literature.
African Heritage 6Museo de Las Américas
This space shows Puerto Ricans of all colors that black people are not (were never) the "other," but rather a “we” that is constantly growing more inclusive.
Juan Carlos and Amalia García Padilla's documentary Legados afroboricuas (Afro-Puerto Rican Legacies), which closes the exhibit, makes clear that it is impossible to separate the "black” culture out of the "Puerto Rican" culture.
To do so would leave us without many words, without people, without music, without songs, and without joy.
We have inherited their rhythms and many of their instruments and dances, such as the drums and tambourines, used for bomba dance and singing and other traditional carnivals.
