Many believe that the Akamba are only found in Kenya. However, there are also found in Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and interestingly, Paraguay. Uruguayan General Jose Gervasio Artigas fled his motherland in 1820 to Paraguay. Freed slaves known as the Akamba accompanied him.
General Gervasio fled with 250 male and female soldiers. They were well received by then-dictator Jose Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. The Paraguay leader gave the Kamba slaves land, oxen and seeds while General Gervasio was gifted with a $30 monthly pension.
The descendants of these slaves currently speak Paraguay’s local language, Guarani. They have increased in size and a 2009 informal census estimated them to be around 807 in total. The low populations are attributed to the initial directive that they marry from within. However, Francia later forced white colonialists to marry mulattoes and blacks.
It is hard to correctly trace where the Uruguayan and Paraguayan slaves came from, as the Transatlantic Slave Trade did not have an accurate accounting mechanism for their goods, slaves. However, the Akamba were long distance traders who traveled to the East African Coast and that is the possible area where they were captured and sold. Alternatively, they were hired as mercenaries.
Their culture resembles the Akamba of Kenya. They are great dancers and have a unique drum beat. They also love bright colors.
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