Nine miles separate the continents of Africa and Europe. On a clear day, in the Strait of Gibraltar, it’s possible to see the distance between Spain and Morocco. That proximity is why it feels like a no-brainer that there are likely African influences found throughout Spain.
Yet, even on the clearest of days, Spain’s African contributions, history, and influences remain largely in the shadows. Kwame Ondo is changing that narrative through the walking tours he offers through his companyAfroiberica Tours. The idea had been five years in the making while he operated tours in Barcelona.
“I work in tourism, and I could sense, especially with Black travelers, that something was missing,” Ondo tells Travel Noire. “They were enjoying the tours and places, but felt there was an element they were not getting, which was including them in the story.”
Ondo was born in Equatorial Guinea. Located on the west coast of Central Africa, it’s the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa. Spain colonized the country from 1778 until its independence on Oct. 12, 1968. His mother moved him and his brothers to Spain when he was just eight years old. Growing up in Spain, the connection between Spain’s colonial history and Africa’s influence on the country was always present. It would show up in the language, how people spoke, or referred to him. In some instances, it was the prejudices he would face.
“I was always curious about why there were all of these negative narratives against Black people,” Ondo shares. “I knew there was something they were not telling me, and as I got older, I started to do my own research.”
Exploring Black History In Spain Through Afroiberica Tours
Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X are among the Black thinkers and leaders Ondo researched, along with Black historians from the United States, Africa, and Spain. One of the most surprising histories Ondo found is the history before Christopher Columbus.
In 1393, there was an institution called La Hermandad de los Negritos, or The Brotherhood of the Negro. The organization was founded in Seville, Spain, nearly 100 years before Columbus sailed to the Americas. The Brotherhood was founded under the protection of Don Gonzalo de Mena y Roeles, the archbishop of Seville, to provide refuge and support for enslaved and free Black individuals.
This is one of many important histories that people will learn during Ondo’s two-hour walking tour in Madrid. In a world-class city known for its monumental architecture, landmarks, and gastronomy, tour participants also explore African contributions embedded in its royal palaces, monuments, art, and development.
Expanding Afroiberica Tour Through Spain
Afroiberica began in 2022 as a passion project for Ondo to offer visitors the parts of Spain’s story they had been missing. Stories immerse people in the lesser-known narrative. The reception has been humbling for Ondo, who said his tours have attracted people from all over the world, including charities, group travelers, NGOs, schools, solo travelers, and universities.
“Inclusion is very important to me,” said Ondo. “It’s also important to teach these stories and contributions because we are part of Spain’s history and the history all over the world.”
Ondo is on a mission to narrow the nine-mile separation between Africa and Europe by teaching African history. He says he plans to expand the tour to other cities in Spain, including Barcelona, Cádiz, and Seville. Private tours and group tours are explained in English and Spanish.
