Abstract

AROCHA RODRIGUEZ, Jaime. Homo-Biosphere in the Afro-Pacific Region. rev.estud.soc. [online]. 2009, n.32, pp.86-97. ISSN 0123-885X.

This article discusses the symbolic system developed by African captives and which still partially persists in Colombia's Pacific Coast region. It introduces the concept of the homo-biosphere because its polymorphic production models, which integrate people with nature, promote environmental sustainability. The information on which the article is based comes from three bodies of knowledge: first, information collected over 15 years by the research project, "People of the Baudó, Co-existence and Ecological Polyphony"; second, data compiled for a temporary exposition in Colombia's National Museum entitled "Wakes and Living Saints among Black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquero Communities" (which ran from August 21 to November 2, 2008); and third, information gathered by a group of Community Councils from the Baudó River Valley (the Colectivo Territorial Afrochocó) as part of a special report to Colombia's Ministry of the Environment that sought to mitigate the negative cultural and environmental effects of building a new highway between the coffee-growing regions of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío and a new port on the Pacific coast to be developed on the Gulf of Tribugá.

Keywords : Cultural Ecology; Holism; Muntu Philosophy; Afro-Colombians of the Pacific Coast Region.

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