Juan Manuel Rosas and Afro-Argentine Candombe

 

 Afro-Argentines played a large role in the caudillo government of Juan Manuel de Rosas, who responded to the needs of the Afro-Argentine community, appeared at their societies' festivals and, if I remember correctly, his white daughter even participated in their dances! As a patron of the Afro-Argentines of 19th century, postcolonial Argentina, his government, ruled non-democratically as a strong man, required patron-client relationships with certain segments of the population. In this case, his rule in the 19th century led to patronage for Afro-Argentine societies, which, at the time, formed perhaps 1/4 of the entire population of Buenos Aires and were visible minorities in other areas of the young nation. Afro-Argentines would offer military support, receive special protections and privileges, and some of their 'ethnic' associations (cabildos de nacion) receiving funding from Rosas. I have been meaning to write a critical overview of Afro-Argentine history, and, one day, shall write more extensively on the role of Argentinos de ascendencia africana en la historia de Buenos Aires.