"Land of the Blacks." Part III - The Influence of the Moors in Spain and Portugal

[RiverWhereTheBloodIsBorn]

The Influence of the Moors in Spain and Portugal

by Edward Vivian Scobie

The same degree of intellect and learning was brought by the Moorish conquerors of the Iberian peninsula to Portugal. Like Spain, that country was to be culturally influenced by the Moors. Its association with Africa dates as far back as the fourth and fifth centuries when Africans arrived in southern Europe. But it was in 711 A.D. that they marched in as conquerors under the command of Tarik. To reinforce what has been said earlier these Moors, as the early writers chronicled, were "black or dark people, some being very black."

After the invasion of 711 came other waves of Moors even darker. It was this occupation of Portugal which accounts for the fact that even noble families had absorbed the blood of the Moor.

From that time onwards, racial mixing in Portugal, as in Spain, and elsewhere in Europe which came under the influence of Moors, took place on a large scale. That is why historians claim that "Portugal is in reality a Negroid land," and that when Napoleon explained that "Africa begins at the Pyrenees," he meant every word that he uttered. Even the world-famed shrine in Portugal, Fatima, where Catholic pilgrims from all over the world go in search of miracle cures for their afflictions, owes its origin to the Moors. The story goes that a Portuguese nobleman was so saddened by the death of his wife, a young Moorish beauty whom he had married after her conversion to the Christian faith, that he gave up his title and fortune and entered a monastery. His wife was buried on a high plateau called Sierra de Aire. It is from there that the name of Fatima is derived.

The Moors ruled and occupied Lisbon and the rest of the country until well into the twelfth century. They were finally defeated and driven out by the forces of King Alfonso Henriques, who was aided by English and Flemish crusaders. The scene of this battle was the Castelo de Sao Jorge or, in English, the Castle of St. George. Today, it still stands, overlooking the city of "Lashbuna"--as the Moors named Lisbon.

The defeat of the Moors did not put an end to their influence on Portugal. The African (Moorish) presence can be seen everywhere in Portugal; in the architecture of many of the buildings. They still retain their Moorish design--like the Praca De Toiros--the Bull Ring in Lisbon. A walk through Alfama--the oldest quarter in Lisbon, with its fifteenth century houses, narrow-winding streets--dates back to the time when it was the last settlement of the Moors. Fado singers abound in all corners and bistros of Afalma. Their songs and rhythms owe much to the influence of the Moorish musicians centuries ago. Even the fishing boats on the beaches of Cascais show marked African traces. Called the rabelos, these boats, with their large red or white sails, which also ply on the Douro River to fetch wine from the upper valleys, are reminiscent of the transport boats of Lagos in Nigeria.

[Kentake]

Hotep family!,
My sistah-friend, Carlene, has this (large sized) framed portrait hanging on her wall in her house. i have been to her home on a few occasions and the very 1st time i saw it i FELL IN LOVE....i find that the portrait was sooo majestic-looking and truly captivating. he appears proud, honourable and dignified the way THE ORIGINAL AFREEKAN MAN should be ....i have always been drawn to this portrait and i believe that it represents the TRUE HONOUR OF OUR AFREEKAN FOREFATHERS in ways that words cannot explain....


SANKOFA!,
Sistah Kentake.

[Elisa Keisha]

I remember one day I was watchin this documentary about some Afrikan region (i didnt get to know which one), about the Griots there... One woman started dancin in the middle of a circle of people, when she started singin (it was more like a prayer, sumthin really deep).... I was like daaamn, it was sooo familiar!! it was like Flamenco!! Of course I knew spanish music is from Afrikan origin but this was no north Afrikan country, those were Black Afrikan Griots
Thanx for the article. The pic is amazing. I wish i could get it in poster as Sister Queen Kentake's friend. The majesty...the look, and the light...the architecture behind looks like that in my hometown.
Is that Tarik? ....aint Tarik a Great name?

[RiverWhereTheBloodIsBorn]

Originally Posted by Kentake

Hotep family!,
My sistah-friend, Carlene, has this (large sized) framed portrait hanging on her wall in her house. i have been to her home on a few occasions and the very 1st time i saw it i FELL IN LOVE....i find that the portrait was sooo majestic-looking and truly captivating. he appears proud, honourable and dignified the way THE ORIGINAL AFREEKAN MAN should be ....i have always been drawn to this portrait and i believe that it represents the TRUE HONOUR OF OUR AFREEKAN FOREFATHERS in ways that words cannot explain....


SANKOFA!,
Sistah Kentake.

Carlene knows! I fell in love with the picture as well. He is majesctic looking and captivating. Would you like a copy?

[RiverWhereTheBloodIsBorn]

Originally Posted by Elisa Keisha

I remember one day I was watchin this documentary about some Afrikan region (i didnt get to know which one), about the Griots there... One woman started dancin in the middle of a circle of people, when she started singin (it was more like a prayer, sumthin really deep).... I was like daaamn, it was sooo familiar!! it was like Flamenco!! Of course I knew spanish music is from Afrikan origin but this was no north Afrikan country, those were Black Afrikan Griots
Thanx for the article. The pic is amazing. I wish i could get it in poster as Sister Queen Kentake's friend. The majesty...the look, and the light...the architecture behind looks like that in my hometown.
Is that Tarik? ....aint Tarik a Great name?

You're welcome. The picture is amazing. I'll send you the picture and you can take it to the commercial printer in your area ad have them to run it off for you. Please send your email address.

[CreatorsCollege]

Originally Posted by Elisa Keisha

I remember one day I was watchin this documentary about some Afrikan region (i didnt get to know which one), about the Griots there... One woman started dancin in the middle of a circle of people, when she started singin (it was more like a prayer, sumthin really deep).... I was like daaamn, it was sooo familiar!! it was like Flamenco!! Of course I knew spanish music is from Afrikan origin but this was no north Afrikan country, those were Black Afrikan Griots
Thanx for the article. The pic is amazing. I wish i could get it in poster as Sister Queen Kentake's friend. The majesty...the look, and the light...the architecture behind looks like that in my hometown.
Is that Tarik? ....aint Tarik a Great name?

you can have this made into a poster. Change the file format to .tiff, using a graphics editor then take it to a commercial printer. There is also a software program that you can use to turn any picture into a wall-sized image by printing it in sections. I'll find the link and let you know. I think it's open source freeware.

[Elisa Keisha]

Originally Posted by CreatorsCollege

you can have this made into a poster. Change the file format to .tiff, using a graphics editor then take it to a commercial printer. There is also a software program that you can use to turn any picture into a wall-sized image by printing it in sections. I'll find the link and let you know. I think it's open source freeware.

Asante Sana both for ur help. I will change it to .tiff and see what can i do with the size

[Arbol_Rasta]

i truly think if we all dress and appear together like that the krakkaz will kill us without ask who we are.....will be to strong for them eyes..
RiverWhereTheBloodIsBorn thanks, i never saw these pic before.so much power

[Elisa Keisha]

Originally Posted by Arbol_Rasta

i truly think if we all dress and appear together like that the krakkaz will kill us without ask who we are.....will be to strong for them eyes..
RiverWhereTheBloodIsBorn thanks, i never saw these pic before.so much power

they already kill without askin. Out of the same fear. But dont think if every Afrikan dress like that they'd be so easy to kill...

[Kweku_Omowale]

in the book african presence in early asia,i saw the same picture as well,
yah i agree with u arbol rasta,i can imagine if you dress alike,dem people will be thanking us really,we have to confuse dem!

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