World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
January 21, 2021
World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
African culture is multi-faceted and has been widely dispersed throughout history
and far beyond the African region. In 2019 UNESCO embraced January 24th as World Day
for African and Afrodescendant Culture. This commemorative day was chosen to be "a
part of the International Decade for People of African Descent proclaimed by the General
Assembly of the United Nations from 2015 to 2024." This day is intended to celebrate
the many contributes that the continent has made throughout history. Music, literature,
dance, science, and cinema have all had major influences from multi-ethnic African
cultures that have shaped the rest of the world. It is also important to note the
importance of this day moving in the future towards a more sustainable development
and peace.
Past Celebrations
Both North and South America have been greatly impacted by African cultures, and now
Afrodescendant groups in these continents have a day to celebrate these impacts. About
200 million people of African descent reside in the Americas. Costa Rica is one country
that joined in celebrating World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture for the
first time on January 24, 2020. San José hosted concerts, exhibitions, and cuisine
samples.
Art and music
Popular music genres of Jazz, rhythm and blues, samba, and rap have their origins
in African
culture. Dances and music all have origins in the continent of Africa or African Diasporas.
Art and music stemming from African or Afrodescendant culture make great moves influencing
peace and development for the future.
Afrodescendant art and music
From Jamaica Bob Marley
Champeta dance with Shakira at Superbowl 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfnrYoJdMD8
UK rap artist 21 Savage
Global Picture
This article is a great way to see how African culture has influence every region in the world. It highlights migration trends around the world and delves into the stories of people of African descent. We can see current and past challenges that many African descendant groups have faced from the Americas to the Middle East through Asia and Europe.
https://stories.minorityrights.org/afro-descendants/
References
- Afro-descendants: A global picture ~ Minority stories. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://stories.minorityrights.org/afro-descendants/
- UNESCO celebrates the world day for African and Afrodescendant culture for the first time. (2020, February 24). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-celebrates-world-day-african-and-afrodescendant-culture-first-time
- World day for African and Afrodescendant culture. (2020, June 8). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/africanafrodescendantculture
