Latin America has the largest population of descendants of African slaves, although exact numbers are hard to come by it is estimated that one-third of the region’s population is of African descent.
Every year Colombia welcomes those who want to celebrate African heritage at the “Petronio Festival,” the world’s largest Afro-Latino festival. This celebration began as a way to commemorate the musical diversity heard throughout the Pacific region. It is named in honor of an important Afro Colombian musician, Petronio Alvarez, born in 1914.