During slavery many many peoples were parted, taken from their families and cultures. It’s rare that an individual who is descended from an enslaved person can fully track back their roots. However, one group of Afro-Cubans, the Gangá-Longobá kept their traditions alive.

In a new documentary some of these Afro-Cubans take a trip back to the homeland to reconnect with their roots.

Watch the video below and you can purchase the full documentary on Amazon here: They Are We, On Amazon.

They Are We, On Amazon.

Below is the video transcript:

The only Gangá group that still exists in Cuba is the Gangá-Longobá

An ethnic group from Africa

The slaves that were taken from Africa in those days

They want to know where they come from

This is my family

Because, the language they speak, I soeak it myself

There are we

The grandchildren of the ones who were taken away still do the same things that we do, they are our brothers

And to finally know where you come from,

Where you come from and how you came from there. That’s divine.

No other people in this part of the world used to practise such cultural activities.

So the history our grandfathers and our fathers were telling us has come true,

That our people were taken into slavery, and some of them are still existing.

My body is in Cuba,

But my soul is in Africa.

And it’s my African soul that nurtures my body in Cuba.

Our people who were taken away have found their home again.