Mestizo

Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço; French, Métis: from Late Latin mixticius, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere, "to mix") is a term of Spanish origin used to designate the peoples of mixed European and Amerindian racial strain inhabiting the region spanning the Americas, from the Canadian prairies in the north to Argentina and Chile's Patagonia in the south.

Africa

Portuguese-speaking Africa

São Tomé and Príncipe

Prior to Portuguese exploration and settlemenment of São Tomé and Príncipe, the islands were uninhabited. The entire current population descends from various ethnic groups that have migrated to the islands since 1485.

Related Topics:
Portuguese - São Tomé and Príncipe - 1485

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Of the country's 137,500 inhabitants, seventy-one percent are defined as mestiços, and are the descendants of Portuguese settlers and African slaves brought to the islands during the early years of settlement from Benin, Gabon, and Congo.

Related Topics:
Benin - Gabon - Congo

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Mestiços there are also known as filhos da terra ("children of the land").

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Currently, the most prominent and internationally known mestiço of São Tomé and Príncipe is president Fradique de Menezes.

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Angola and Mozambique

In the two other Portuguese-speaking African countries - Angola and Mozambique - mestiço is also used to describe people of mixed European and native African ancestry. In both countries they constitue small minorities under 2 percent.

Related Topics:
Portuguese-speaking African countries - Angola - Mozambique

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French-speaking Africa

Métis (feminine Métise) in French-speaking Africa is used to describe people of mixed European and native African ancestry.

Related Topics:
Métis - French-speaking Africa

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