African diaspora explained to kids

The African diaspora is a term used to describe the movement of people from Africa to other parts of the world. The diaspora includes both voluntary migration (such as for economic opportunities or education) and involuntary migration (such as the Atlantic slave trade). It is estimated that there are around 150 million people of African descent living outside of Africa. This includes people who are of partial African ancestry (such as Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Latin Americans) as well as people who identify as black. The diaspora is spread across the globe, with significant populations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. There are a number of reasons why people have moved from Africa over the centuries. Some have been forced to migrate, such as during the Atlantic slave trade, while others have moved in search of better economic opportunities or to escape conflict. The African diaspora has contributed greatly to the cultures of the countries it is now found in. For example, Afro-Brazilians have helped to shape the music, dance, and food of Brazil; while people of African descent in the Caribbean have contributed to the development of genres such as reggae, calypso, and soca. The African diaspora has also been involved in a number of political movements, such as the civil rights movement in the United States and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. African diaspora communities have also been active in promoting pan-Africanism, which is a political ideology that calls for the unity of all people of African descent.