Amafrocol

Amafrocol (Asociación de Mujeres Afrocolombianas) is a Colombian non-profit organization of Black women dedicated to improving the quality of life of Afro-descendant communities through affirmative action and community social projects, with an ethnic, cultural, gender and generational perspective. It was founded in 1996 by a group of friends from different regions of the Colombian Pacific (Chocó, Cauca and Nariño) who met periodically to celebrate special dates or share typical food, and who felt the need to organize and legally constitute themselves to solve some of the many problems they faced as women, as Black people and as dispossessed people. After many vicissitudes, it became the most important Black women's organization in Cali and the Valle del Cauca department. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of life of Afro-descendant people through affirmative action and community social projects with an ethnic, cultural, gender and generational perspective. Its vision is to consolidate itself as one of the most important Black women's organizations at national and international level, with sufficient ethnic characterization and installed capacity to develop activities and projects in favor of Afro-descendant people. Its objectives include defending and vindicating the rights of Black women and Afro-descendant people in general; strengthening the identity and self-esteem of Afro-descendant people; rescuing and disseminating the cultural values of the ethnic group; establishing a solidarity network to help each other and their communities of origin; developing training and productive projects; contributing to the reconstruction of the social fabric; and promoting environmental conservation. Amafrocol has a participatory and horizontal organizational structure in which decisions are built jointly among its members. Its lines of work include gender perspective with emphasis on Black women's rights; rescue and dissemination of Afro-descendant cultural manifestations; preservation of intangible cultural heritage; visibility and appreciation of Black aesthetics and beauty; economic empowerment; and reaffirmation of Black identity and self-esteem in Afro-descendant girls, boys and young people. The organization is known for its Tejiendo Esperanzas festival and for its work in vindicating Afro-descendant ethnic groups in Colombia. It also organizes events such as the Encuentro de peinadoras y peinadores (Meeting of hairdressers) and a related contest, and promotes Pacific cuisine. Its website features news about its activities and projects.

Amafrocol was founded in 1996 by a group of friends from different regions of the Colombian Pacific (Chocó, Cauca and Nariño) who met periodically to celebrate special dates or share typical food and enjoy each other's company. They felt the need to organize and legally constitute themselves to solve some of the many problems that afflicted them as women, as Black people and as dispossessed people. After many vicissitudes, the organization emerged as the most important Black women's organization in Cali and the Valle del Cauca department. Since its founding, Amafrocol has worked to improve the quality of life of Afro-descendant people through affirmative action and community social projects with an ethnic, cultural, gender and generational perspective. It has developed lines of work including gender perspective with emphasis on Black women's rights, rescue and dissemination of Afro-descendant cultural manifestations, preservation of intangible cultural heritage, visibility and appreciation of Black aesthetics and beauty, economic empowerment, and reaffirmation of Black identity and self-esteem in Afro-descendant girls, boys and young people. The organization is known for its Tejiendo Esperanzas festival and for vindicating Afro-descendant ethnic groups in Colombia. It also organizes events such as the Encuentro de peinadoras y peinadores and a related contest, and promotes Pacific cuisine. Its website features news about its activities and projects, including a note dated August 29, 2026, about the Association.

• 1996

  Amafrocol is founded by a group of friends from Chocó, Cauca and Nariño.

• Amafrocol becomes the most important Black women's organization in Cali and Valle del Cauca.

• Amafrocol is known for its Tejiendo Esperanzas festival.

• Amafrocol organizes the Encuentro de peinadoras y peinadores and a related contest.

A grassroots non-profit organization of Afro-Colombian women focused on ethnic, cultural, gender and generational perspectives, affirmative action and community social projects.

1. 1Inicio - Amafrocolamafrocol.org
2. 2Quiénes Somos - Amafrocolamafrocol.org
3. 3Amafrocol - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Amafrocol - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org