The Africanity of Spain: Identity and Problematization

Author(s): Antumi Toasije

Source: Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jan., 2009), pp. 348-355
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc.
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ofSpain
TheAfricanity
Identityand Problematization

Journalof Black Studies

Volume39 Number3
2009 348-355
January
ff^^fiflQ <t9o<> Piihlirationv;

10. 1 177/002 1934706297563

http://jbs.sagepub.com
hostedat
http://online.sagepub.com

AntumiToasije

Panafrican CenterKituo cha Wanafrika&

AutonomousUniversityof Madrid

Africansin Spain have a large historicalpresenceand influence,butrecentlya

growingofficialdiscourse of Europeanizationsince the incorporationin the
European Union puts in a serious danger theAfricanityof Spain and leads to
a growing racism. This article describes the differentgenerationsof Black
populationsin Spain, the identityconflictsand how one can organizeand defy
thedominantdiscourse.
migrations;
African-Europeans;
Keywords: Africans;Spain; African-Spaniards;
racism
identity;

fricanpeoples have an ancientpresencein theIberianPeninsula.In fact,

of African
xYSpanish identityespecially has been forgedon thefrontlines
and European interaction.Iberians from Africa and Celts from Central
Europe were the two major peoples in the protohistorictimes and their
encountercame to createthe so called Celt-Iberians.It was the naturalmixtureof influences.Later,in theIberianPeninsula,therewere Phoenicianand
Greekcolonies thatwerereplacedby thecollisionbetweentheCarthaginians
fromAfricaand theRomans fromEurope duringthewarsbetweenRome and
Carthagefrom264 to 146 BC.
The Latinizationof thepeninsulawas disruptedby thecomingof thepeoples of centraland WesternEurope,Vandals and Visigoths,and lateragain in
711, peoples fromAfrica,coming with Islam, enteredthe peninsula. The
Moor realitywas criticalin Spanish historyforseven centuries.It remainsa
of theBlack influencein theIberianPeninsula
keypiece in theunderstanding
(Van Sertima,1991). We mustconclude thatuntilthe defeatof Grenada in
1492, the westernend of the European subcontinenthad been the core of
European and Africanstruggles,and this has created an ethnicallymixed
population.
Under the light of these historical facts, we can analyze the process
of social and culturalEuropeanization of Spain, which is being publicly
348

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ofSpain 349
Toasije/TheAfricanity

and the
conductedby theSpanishpowers,especiallyby thegovernment
mediaas beingsustainedovera falsemythofpureEuropeanity.
live thisprocess?And whatare thesocial conseHow do we Africans
it
The
African
is veryvisiblein a Europeanenvironof
all?
migrant
quences
in themedia,andall theSpanish
mentandis a victimofracistspeculations
as
local
and
national
do havean opinion
such
administrations,
institutions,
relatethe
andagencyin thisagenda.My purposein thisarticleis to briefly
of
in
in
as
of
the
collective
Blacks
of
Africans
Europe.We
Spain part
struggle
lived
in
that
Black
Africans
have
with
the
fact
start
always
Spain,and this
in
a
remarkable
element
the
has
contributed
to
existence
Spanishculture.I
not
in
terms
of
suchas flameanthatthishashappened, only
popularculture,
in
elite
cultureof
but
also
the
so-called
mencoor religiouspractices,
high,
such
as Juan
with
academics
and
writers
these
evidences
Spain.We see
from
the
such
or
Chicaba
Guinean
Latino(Maso, 1973)
area,painters as Juan
or
with
the
African-Cuban
the
17th
de Parejafrom
legaciesin varicentury,
But
it
is
not
and
centuries.
the
20th
ous fieldsduring 18th,19th,
onlythepast
even
the
in
that
have
no
mostrecent
African
achievementsSpain
recognition,
in
to
scientific
the
of
contributions Equatorial-Guinean
research,
gift Spain
and manyotheraspectsof modernSpainhavenotbeen
politics,literature,
Thereasonforthisis thatSpainwishestoconcealitscolonialand
recognized.
enslaving
pastinAfrica.

of Spain
The De-Africanization
all facts
on severallevels,to destroy
Therehas beena definite
intention,
this
has
taken
different
Africain relationto Spain,and
process
regarding
creation
ofa supposedly
routes.First,therehasbeenthepoliticalandcultural
Islamic
and
worlds.
between
Christian
cultural
natural
opposition
objective,
based
on
civilizaSemitic
havea commonbackground
Bothviews,however,
environment.
SincetheendoftheSpanishinvasion
tionintheMediterranean
warsinMorocco,called"African
wars,"withthedefeatoftheCabilianleader
idensense
of
a publiclyownedAfrican-Spanish
Abd El-Krimin 1926,the
Yet
even
the
discourse
of
during dictatorship
power.
tityhas declinedin the
of theCatholiccult,
of FranciscoFrancoat thepeak of theofficialization
with
what
the
called
therestillwas a senseofcommonality
Spanishofficials
Black
therewerestillpositive
themoors."Furthermore,
"ourbrothers,
figures
wherethecharismatic
suchas Christmas
in thepopulartraditions
personage
of the King Baltasar or some Black Saints (San Martinde Poires,
San Benedicto,San Elesboam,Santa Ifigenia,San Moiss, San Serapio,
addedto theeconomic,
San Fermin,etc.) wererevered.This relationship

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350

Journal
ofBlack Studies

andsocialreality
ofthecountry
andcreatedinEuropethecommon
religious,
in
said
as
an
"Africa
insult,
phrase,
begins thePyrenees."
much
of
this
has
to an end,newtimeshavearrivedwiththe
come
Alas,
entrance
ofSpainintheEuropeanCommonMarketandthentheEuropean
Unionandmonetary
systemin 2002. Spainhas eruptedintoan "advanced"
with
all of theattributes
of theolder"advanced"councapitalistcountry
with
a
and
a
more
racialist
outlook.
tries,
growing
economy
WiththeEuropeanization
in
the
ofAfricans,
contribution
process Spain,
thefactoftheAfricanity
ofBlackcommuniof Spain,andtheimportance
tiesandelementsto Spanishhistory
havebeendefinitively
wipedoutfrom
the officialdiscourse.JosMaria AznarLopez, Spanishpresident
from
1996 to 2004, stampedhis imprint
on theendingof theAfricancontributioninSpainbycriminalizing
inofficial
discoursessuchas the
immigration
"SevilleSommet"ofthe21standthe22ndofJune2002 (Toasij& VVAA,
of origin
2004). Therewereproposalsforeconomicsanctionsto countries
ofthemigrants.
FromtheeraofFelipeGonzalez,therewas a growing
discourseon criminalization
of themigration
but
it
was
with
Aznar
process,
thatthediscoursebecamemorebelligerent,
by meansof thewordsillegal
andundocumented.
and
The wordsEuropeandAfricabecameantagonistic,
therehas been a seriousintention
to concealtheAfricanity
of Ceuta and
Melilla and even the CanaryIslands,an Africanterritory
thattodayis
the
most
African
in
from
the
sea
what
is
actuallyan
receiving
migrants
internal
Africanmigration.
Does thismeanthattheEuropeandispositions
forso said securingthe
southfrontiers
are in factsayingthatSpain and itsBlack legacycan be a
The realityis that
andEuropeanhomogeneity?
problemforsocial stability
theEuropeanUnionseekstopushSpainto demonstrate
itsEuropeanity
by
andSpainwillnot
African
closingthegatestothemillenarian
immigration,
be carelessin thisdangerous
task,to theextentofkillingdisarmedpeople,
to "be as Europeanas possible."
One onlyhasto see thattherehasbeenlittlescandalintheSpanishpress
afterthedeclarations
of theMinisterof International
Affairs
of Morocco,
TaiebFassi Fihri,whoannouncedto themediathattheSpanishKingJuan
CarlosI calledtheMoroccancounterpart
MohamedVI, threetimesin the
samedaytoask forhelpwiththeentrance
in CeutaandMelilla
ofAfricans
in October2005 (El Pais, 2005). As a consequence,
theMoroccangovernof
sentto theSaharandeserthundreds
ment,bendingunderthepressure,
Africancitizens,an unknown
numberof whomdied of starvation
and the
reinforced
themilitary
government
presencein theborders,
killingdozens
ofpeoplebyshooting
themas theytriedtoclimboverthewalls.Ifwe accept

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ofSpain 351
Toasije/TheAfricanity

thatthereis no favorin international

relationswithoutcompensation,
we
it
is
evident
that
can understand
why
Spainis a keyforMoroccoto access
theEuropeanUnion.
A concomitant
coursein thisprocessof de-Africanization
of Spainhas
of theBlack migrants
in all publicdiscourses.
beenthedepersonalization
haveusednewforgedgeographic
suchas "subSpanishauthorities
epithets
such
as
avalanche
Saharans,"
(avalancha),flux
byexpressions
accompanied
Black
(flujo),andso on,applicableonlytoobjectsthathelptoproblematize
humanrightsin relationto
immigration
byeliminating
anything
regarding
migrations.
The anomalousconcentration
of information
regardingnonregular
kind
of
crime
on television,
as a
new
immigration
press,and radioshows
thefactthatEuropein generaland Spain in particular,
because of racist
myths
forgedin slaveryandcolonialeras,fearAfricanmigration.
Actually,
muchmorethanitdoes themorequantitative
migration
SpainfearsAfrican
The racist
fromLatinAmericanorWestern
Europeancountries.
migrations
pictureof Blacks thathas been used to
mythshave createdan irrational
oppresstheBlack masses,notonlyin thepasterasbutalso in thepresent,
wherein everycityof Spain one can see Black workerswithextremely
jobs andless rightsthanothermigrants.
underqualified

The RecentBlack Generations

we mustdivideourpresentrealityas a collecTo havean openpicture,
tiveculturalcommunity
intofourgenerations.
First,we mustanalyzethe
intoSpainbeforethe 1980sor were
groupof Black peoplewhomigrated
of ancientBlack populations
descendants
mainlyin theAndalusiaregion,
werea mixedgroupofmiddle-class
and
professionals
especiallyas thefirst
technicians.
administrative
Theymostlycame fromEquatorialGuinea,an
Africanterritory
occupiedby Spain until1968. Many of themfollowed
politicallythe rightwingand had stronglinkswiththe Francoregime,
fieldsbut
respectedin theirprofessional
beingin consequencecommonly
notalwaysin thefamiliar
and social relations,
usuallybeingtheobjectof
in theSpanishfamilies(Bolekia,2005); others
cheatsand racistattitudes
weretheCubanssuchas AntonioMachinandotherBlackLatinAmericans
suchas thewriterChesterHimes,and some
and fewAfricanAmericans,
and military
bases in Spain,
personal,of theAmericanmilitary
sportsman
in
suchas Torrejonor Rota.Mostofthemspeakof havinggood treatment
withtheAmericaof
and administrative
termsin comparison
professional
thosedays.

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352

of BlackStudies
Journal

A secondgroup,themajority
of Black Africanstodayin Spain,came
since the middle 1980s, the majorityfromWesternAfrica;Senegal,
Gambia,Cape Verde,Mali,andfromthe1990sNigeriaandCentralAfrica;
CameroonandtheDemocraticRepublicof Congoand EquatorialGuinea.
This generation
had to face thegrowingracismin Spanishsociety,disoftheNeo-Nazifacinjobs andhousing,therisingimportance
crimination
In the
of
and
administration.
and
the
ill
treatment
the
tion,
Spanishpolice
of
the
it
was
the
of
series
and
time
television
films,showing history
media,
in
and
the
of
discrimination
the
United
States.
This,contrary
reality
slavery
to itsoriginalpurpose,createda sentiment
amongtheSpanishpopulation
thatwe Blacks shouldbe hatedor made funof as comics.Furthermore,
Spain was thoughtto have had nothingto do withslaveryand racism,
becauseas themoviesshowed,thiswas an Americanproblem.Fromthe
of associain Spaincreateda vastquantity
1990s,thisAfricangeneration
or cultural
tionsand supportgroups,mostof themundera nationalistic
basis.These groupshaveverypracticalobjectives,suchas regularization,
andsocial
ofcadavers,andalso cultural
aid towidows,repatriation
support
some
social
of
national
festivities
and
around
the
dates
activity,
objectives
A studyconductedin 2003 in
butpoliticsis not amongtheirpriorities.
of theBalearicIslandsshowsclearlythatthe
Majorca at theUniversity
ofanymigraratioofdensity
associations
thehighest
BlackAfrican
present
tiongroupto Spain.
andsecond
A thirdgroupofBlacksin Spainarethechildren
ofthefirst
were
I
of
Black
which
am
(of
one). Many
brought
generation
populations
Thisgrouphadto
to Spainat a veryyoungage orwereborninthecountry.
becauseofthefact
racismwithgreatperplexity
andconfusion
facegrowing
thattheywere,by officialpapers,Spaniards.This realityshowsmorethe
fact thatwe are talkingabout racism and not of xenophobia.Black
hadtorealizetheirdifsomeofwhomwerebornin thecountry,
Spaniards,
similar
to thosedescribedby
ferenceandbeganto generateattitudes,
quite
Omowale(MalcolmX) in the 1960s (MalcolmX & Haley,1992). Some
toworksunder
ofassimilation
andacceptedtobe relegated
taketheattitude
the
theirqualification
andneverquestioned
assumingthe
publicly situation,
officialdiscourse,sayingthat"thereis no racismin Spain." Others,a
and beganto organizeand fightracism
takecombativeattitudes
minority,
withstrength,
associations
andPanafrican
groupssimilarto those
creating
of theUnitedStates,theCaribbean,and the same Africa.These groups
especiallyaftertheshowing
begantoeruptintherapandreggaeambiences,
in 1992 of theSpikeLee filmMalcolmX andtheconceitsin Spainofrap
exampleis theColours
groupssuch as Public Enemy.An unambiguous

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ofSpain 353
Toasije/TheAfricanity

andtheBlackPanthers
ofSpain(knownas FOJAtoday),two
Brotherhood
activist,
groupscreatedin the 1990s led by AbuyNfubea,a well-known
of
withthepurposeof theeducationoftheBlack youthand thedefending
BlacksagainsttheNeo-Nazisandthepolice.Finally,a thirdgroupamong
to createassociationsand
of Black Spaniardswas trying
thisgeneration
withno senseor intention
linkssimilarto thoseof thesecondgeneration,
on a culturalbasis and withstandardized
butconstructed
of confrontation,
andcommitments,
thereareabout150 groupsof integration
or
procedures
ofthisAfrican-Spanish
createdmainlybymembers
celebration
generation.
thisgroupis
on thefourth
I wouldliketoconcentrate
generation;
Finally,
African
andsomeare
borninSpain,from
stillcomposedofchildren,
parents,
ofBlackSpaniards
thethird
beingborninSpainwithfullcitizengeneration
andprivileges
intheverynextfuture.
less liberties
Why?
shipbutdefinitely
of Spainhas a very
The factof thealreadyintroduced
Europeanization
on theidentity
oftheindiandinconsequence
strong
impactintheeducation
thattheoppression
ofBlacks.The statement
vidualandthesocialoppression
identities
or/and
oranyotherkindcreatesalternative
ofracistnature
whether
whichis to saythefeelwoundis wellstudied,
developsa senseofhistorical
and needsa reparation
has beenhistorically
deprived
ingthata community
all over
Itis objective
tosaythatBlackpopulations
dependsontheconditions.
of freedom,
of theiradministration
theglobehavebeengenerally
deprived
discourse
notonlyhides
Buttheofficial
andneedreparation.
labor,resources,
thosewho intendto
thisfactbutturnsit intothecontrary
by criminalizing
Thisis
economicalsystem.
of theinternational
escapetheunjustconditions
Blackpeopleor segrein popularattitudes,
problematizing
beingtranslated
the
viewfrom
African
between
legacies.Thetension
gatingSpanishidealistic
underthelightof theInternational
judicialfactof theneedof reparations,
doubtthattherearecrimesagainsthumanity
PenalCourt,thatsayswithout
suchas racism,genocide,and slaveryandtheofficial
thatdo notprescribe,
chaosinthemindsoftheyoungAfricanmenacetocreateanidentity
rhetoric,
Spaniards.

Identityand Problematization
in Francein 2005 arean exampleofthedmystifiThe socialuprisings
of
cationoftheintegration
process,whichis actuallya formoftheintegrity
theEuropeancommunity.
Clearly,itposes thequestionof thesocial culof
turalmodel to follow.The real backgroundis thatmultigenerations
havelowerincomes,and
are stilldeprivedof essentialrights,
immigrants

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354

ofBlack Studies
Journal

do nothaveproperpoliticalrepresentation;
racismis alwaysat thetopofit
all. The solutionis nonexistent
in thegovernment,
buttheformulas
tominimizethetensionsareclearlyexposedin the2ndPan-AfricanCongressin
in Madridin December2005.
Spain,celebrated
The conclusionsofthemeeting,
whichcongregated
about200 representativesofAfricannongovernmental
in
organizations Spain,saythathistorical and culturalapproaching
and reconciliation
betweenBlack Africans
andWhiteEuropeansis a keyissueforharmonious
butthere
coexistence,
cannotbe reconciliation
without
and
a
factor
for
is
reparations,
reparations
of
the
wound
the
2nd
(Conclusionsof
recognition
Congress,
Pan-African
thephaseoftherecognition
ofits
2005). Today,Spainhas notevenentered
in
the
of
of
the
coloenslavement
millions
Black
Africans,
responsibility
andthepersistence
ofracism.Spainseeksnot
nialism,thepostcolonialism,
evento recognizeitsAfricanity,
themillenarian
contributions
oftheBlack
to
its
and
what
in
fact
is
mixed
Africanpopulation
history,
Spain's
Europeanbackground.
Thus,we can concludethat,on one hand,theAfricanBlackcommunity
in Spaintodaymustfacetheconstruction
ofpoliticalentities
thatcan representourinterest
as a collectiveand,on theotherhand,theSpanishpowersmustbegintheprocessfortherecognition
ofthecontribution
ofBlacks
to thehistory
of Spain and stopthedepersonalization
of theBlack immitheBlack representatives
of the
gration.This mustbe doneby consulting
socialmovements
with
as
an
Afrocentric
alreadyworking
agenda, conceptualizedbyAsante(2003),andimplementing
ourrecommendations
starting
in theschool,thepublicmedia,and thepublicadministration,
especially
thepolice.Withoutrecognition
of theAfricanity
of Spain and thecrimes
in
Africans
the
of
hands
the
against
Spanishpowers,therecan'tbe reparawill
nor
there
ever
exist
an
becauseidentity
tions,
identity,
African-Spanish
is a factof morality
and ethicsirreconcilable
withthefeelingof injustice
that,sooneror later,willexplodein a socialconflict.

References
Thetheory
American
Asante,M. K. (2003). Afrocentricity:
ofsocial change.Chicago:African
Images.
Bolekia,J.(2005). Speechat the2ndPan-African
Congress.Unpublished
proceedings.
Conclusionsofthe2ndPan-African
Congress.(2005). Unpublished
proceedings.
El Pais. (2005, October12).
Malcolm X & Haley,A. (1992). Autobiography
of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine.
published1964)
(Originally

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of Spain 355
Toasije/TheAfricanity
Maso, C. C. (1973). JuanLatino:Gloriade Espaha y de su raza. Chicago:Nororiental.
Serra,S., Toasije,A. (2004). La immigraci,
pasosemisorsi les Illes Balears[Theimmigrationemitting
countries
andtheBalearicIslands].Palmade Mallorca,Spain:EdicionsCort.
pasos emisorsi les Illes Balears [The immiToasije,A., & VVAA. (2004). La immigraci,
countries
and theBalearicIslands].Palmade Mallorca,Spain: Edicions
grationemitting
Cort.
I. (1991).Thegoldenage oftheMoor.NewBrunswick,
VanSertima,
NJ:Transaction
Publishers.
AntumiToasije receivedhisMA ingeneralhistory
fromtheUniversity
oftheBalearicIslands,
inAfrican
ofMadrid.He is president
studiesfrom
Autonomous
University
Spain,anda doctorate
of thePanafrican
CenterKituoCha Wanafrika,
Directorof theReviewof Migrations
of the
ofImmigrants
intheBalearicIslands,anda MemberoftheAfrican
Federation
StudiesGroupof
theAutonomous
of Madrid.His researchinterests
includePanafricanism,
African
University
African
andAfrican
resistances.
culture,
migrations,
contemporary

This content downloaded from 67.115.155.19 on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 20:25:11 PM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions