The Black Mexico Festival is a cultural celebration that recognizes and celebrates African heritage in Mexico, with the slogan “Our Third Root,” which represents the contribution of the Afro-Mexican community to the country’s cultural identity.

Dates and Venue

In San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, the festival is held annually at the Public Library (Insurgentes 25), a community center with more than 65 years of service, dedicated to educational, cultural and community integration activities.

Content and activities

The festival includes:

• Artistic performances of music, dance and theatre that reflect African heritage.
• Exhibitions and workshops on history, culture and human rights.
• Conferences and talks with specialists and activists.
• Community events open to the public, with free admission on many occasions labibliotecapublica.org.

Cultural context

The Afro-Mexican community in Mexico has roots in African slaves brought during the colony and in later migrants. Although historically it has been invisible in the construction of national identity, in 1992 the Mexican government officially recognized the African contribution as one of the three great cultural influences of the country.