“¡Mandinga Sea! Africa in Antioquia”: Post-Slavery and Postcolonial Museology in Colombia. An Exercise in Public History

"Mandinga sea!" is a colloquial expression used by the people of Antioquia (a region in the Colombian Andes) to express frustration in everyday situations. Interestingly, this popular phrase bears witness to the historical presence of the Mandinga people from West Africa in this part of South America. Along with the Mandingas, during the Atlantic slavery, African people from very different cultural affiliations —including Yolofos, Fulos, Casangas, Branes, Zapes, Nalus, Sosos, Soninques, Biojos, Biáfaras, Balantas, Bambaras, Ibos, Congos, Anzicos, Ambundus, Vilis, Angolas, Fantis, Fon, Ewé, and Ashanti—were forcibly deported to what was then the New Kingdom of Granada, to live a destiny they never chose.

This was the focus of the museographic exhibition (Medellín, 2014) that sought to recognize and value African legacies in Colombia, in order to encourage a critical reflection on the enduring impacts of racism and discrimination that still affect Afro-Colombian communities today. Departing from this work of post-slavery and post-colonial museology based on rigorous historical research, the talk will reflect on the challenges posed by the encounter between the history of slavery and public history.