Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda (seated, second left) with some of the University of the West Indies students and their lecturer, now in Mexico. - Contributed

Students in search of their roots

Fifteen students from the modern languages department of the University of the West Indies (UWI) are set to learn about their African-Mexican roots.

The group, along with a lecturer, Dr Maite Villoria-Nolla, left on Wednesday for a two-week practice/home stay in Mexico, organised by the Mexican Embassy in Jamaica.

They will visit Mexico City, as well as Yanga, a village in the state of Veracruz, which was established by a Maroon community. The community is said to have pioneered the emancipation movements in the Latin American and Caribbean countries by signing a treaty with the Spanish Crown in 1630.

It was also the most important port of entry to the New Spain by the European conquerors, pirates and African slaves.

From here, Mexican slaves were sent to the Caribbean islands, and Africans were received to work in Mexican mines. Studies on this village were done at UWI a decade ago by Professor Joe Pereira.

The group will return on May 24.