In a moment of profound cultural significance, Madam Francia Márquez, the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, was welcomed back to her ancestral land during a visit to the Asantehene at Manhyia Palace today. The visit celebrates Madam Márquez’s lineage, as she traces her roots directly back to the Asante people, thereby identifying herself as an Asante woman.
This connection makes her visit a symbolic homecoming, formally welcomed by the Palace and the people of the Asante Kingdom.
Madam Márquez holds the historic distinction of being the first Black woman to serve as Colombia’s Vice President, a role that adds significant weight and visibility to her efforts to reconnect with her African heritage. Her presence at Manhyia underscores the enduring historical ties between the Americas and West Africa, particularly the cultural links sustained by descendants of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The visit by the Colombian Vice President was hailed by Manhyia Palace as a momentous occasion. Beyond diplomatic formality, the engagement served as a powerful recognition of the shared history and heritage between the two distant communities, affirming the identity of Madam Márquez and strengthening cultural relations between Colombia and the Asante Kingdom.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
