The United Nation designated the year 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. According to UNESCO, 90 percent of the 150 millions people of African descent in Latin America are living under extreme poverty, while 30 percent are illiterates. Although they account for estimated 30 percent of the population, they experience discrimination and are widely excluded from political and economic participation in Latin America societies. The United Nations
launched several projects in cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organization in order to draw attention to their living conditions and to promote the recognition of their cultural, social and political rights. Presenting a portrait of musical genre Candombe and the afro-american religions in Uruguay, photographer Alex Espinosa documents the situation and influences of the culture of people of African descent in the society of the South American country.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, wall painting
© / Urugay, Montevideo, afro-american musical genre Candombe, drums at the fire.
© / Urugay, Montevideo, afro-american musical genre Candombe, drums at the fire.
© / Urugay, Montevideo, afro-american musical genre Candombe, members of a comparsa playing on the street.
© / Urugay, Montevideo, afro-american musical genre Candombe, members of a comparsa playing on the street.Dancer.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, woman on the street. According to official studies the afrodescendants women in Uruguay are the group with greater degrees of exclusion in the country
© / Uruguay, Montvideo. Candombe. Carnival. Dancing members of the Comparsa Nigeria are preparing for the Llamadas.
© / Uruguay, Montvideo. Candombe. Carnival. Dancing members of the Comparsa Nigeria at the Llamadas.
© / Uruguay, Montvideo. Candombe. Carnival. Dancing members of the Comparsa Nigeria at the Llamadas.
© / Uruguay, Montvideo. Candombe. Carnival. Members of the Comparsa Nigeria at preperation for the Llamadas.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, mother of the afrouruguayan plastic artist Onnika in the room of her daughter.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, Candombe, drum builder and famous percussionist Fernando "Lobo" Núñez.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo. Susana Andrade, journalist, deputy, activist for the rights of afro-descandants and priestess of the afro-american religion Umbanda at a ceremony.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo. Afro-american religion Umbanda, ceremony.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religion Quimbanda, believers.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religions. Yemanja ceremony at the beach.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religions. Yemanja ceremony at the beach.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religions. Yemanja ceremony at the beach.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religions. Yemanja ceremony at the beach.
© / Uruguay, Montevideo, afro-american religions. Yemanja ceremony at the beach.