Puerto Rico
Capital · San Juan
Bomba and plena drums out of Loíza, and an Afro-Puerto Rican identity long written out of the island's official story.
Puerto Rico at a glance
- Capital
- San Juan
- Region
- Greater Antilles · US territory
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Languages
- Spanish · English
- Dialling code
- +1 787
- Status
- Territory or overseas department
The African connection
Loíza, settled by free and escaped Africans, is the centre of Afro-Puerto Rican culture. Bomba is a conversation — the dancer leads, the primo drum answers. Slavery was abolished here in 1873.
Key dates for Puerto Rico
The dates this community marks — independence, emancipation, and the festivals that fill a hall wherever its people have settled.
Diaspora meets diaspora
AfricAsia began with Africans in Asia. The same story runs through every entry in this section — people of African descent building a life a long way from where their ancestors started.
If you are from Puerto Rico and you are anywhere in Asia — studying, working, playing, passing through — there are people here who will know what you are asking before you finish the question.
Every Asian country →The Puerto Rico channel
Every entry in the diaspora section has its own free channel in the Hub, alongside the 108 country channels and the topic rooms.
Open the channel →