African diaspora

The African diaspora refers to populations originating from Africa who have dispersed to various locations around the world. This concept, rooted in the Greek word for "to sow over," gained prominence in social sciences in the late 20th century, extending beyond its earlier use for Jewish and Greek dispersals.1

Africa is recognized as the birthplace of humanity, with modern humans originating there and spreading globally. Throughout history, peoples have migrated within, into, and out of Africa. The most significant outward movement was the Atlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th century, which forcibly transported millions of Africans to the New World. This immense loss of people profoundly impacted African societies, contributing to their subsequent weakness and decline. The term "diaspora" is now used to describe these dispersed African populations and their shared sociocultural experiences.234561