From April 12 to 16, 2025, the city of Santiago de Cuba will host the 23rd International Conference on African and Afro-American Culture, dedicated to honoring the contributions of African women and those in the diaspora to their families, communities, and societies.
For women of African heritage, this conference is an opportunity to highlight our collective history, strength, and resilience. Roxana Beatriz Chacón, deputy director of the “Fernando Ortiz” African Cultural Center, emphasized the importance of this gathering for amplifying the voices and experiences of African women across the globe. Through a multidisciplinary lens, topics such as gender, identity, race, history, literature, linguistics, medicine, religion, and artistic expression will be explored.
Workshops will delve into the historical and cultural evolution of African societies, their artistic contributions, and their influence on Latin America and the Caribbean. This platform provides African women with a space to reclaim narratives, share their journeys, and connect with others advocating for change and recognition.
The event’s significance lies in bringing together a diverse array of participants—social scientists, visual artists, doctors, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, and practitioners of African-rooted religions—to exchange knowledge and celebrate the shared values of African, Latin American, and Caribbean cultures.
Organized annually by the “Fernando Ortiz” African Cultural Center, this year’s conference is supported by several institutions, including the Ambassador of Culture and Peace for the African Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean, local cultural divisions, and the University of Oriente.
For African women, this is more than just an academic event; it is a celebration of heritage, a call to unity, and a recognition of the pivotal roles they play in shaping societies across the world.