They discover that Celia Cruz’s roots are the African Balanta ethnic group

Miami. The African roots of legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz (1925-2003) go back to the Balanta community in Guinea-Bissau, one of the largest ethnic groups that has also given that country a language, the company revealed Wednesday. African Ancestry, dedicated to the ancestral quest through DNA.

Founded in 2003 and based in Washington DC, African Ancestry used a lineage test to trace Cruz’s maternal line to and honor the Balanta community in that African country, a statement said.

“This is an exciting time for us as Celia Cruz has fully embraced her African heritage in her life and music, which is quite groundbreaking for her time,” said Gina Paige, president and co-founder of African Ancestry.

As part of the company’s “Remember Who You Are” campaign, Celia Cody, Cruz’s niece and namesake, presented her DNA through a simple cheek swab, the statement explains.

The result of the test led them to the Balanta ethnic group, which currently represents 30% of the population of Guinea-Bissau.

According to estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the population of Guinea-Bissau in 2011 was 1,683,000 inhabitants. Most of the ethnic groups are the Balanta (30%), Fula (20%), Manjace (14%), Mandinga (13%) and Papd (7%).

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau was discovered in 1446 by the Portuguese explorer Nuno Tristão. It lies in West Africa and is bordered to the north by Senegal, to the east and south by Guinea Conakry and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The official language is Portuguese, although there are 19 local languages, including Balanta.

Born in Havana, and died in New Jersey, USA, Cruz generally incorporated the influences of the Yoruba tribe (an ancient Nigerian ethnic group) into her interpretations as a sign of her African pride.

“We now know that she belongs to the Balanta community (known as ‘those who resist’) and we are proud to celebrate her legacy in this unprecedented way,” said Paige.

With a database of over 30,000 indigenous African DNA samples, African Ancestry defines specific countries and ethnic groups of origin with an unparalleled level of detail, precision and confidence, the website says.

An icon of Latin music and considered “the queen of salsa,” Cruz was one of the most popular singers in the industry, with a total of four Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammys and millions of records sold around the world.

In 1960, a year after the triumph led by Fidel Castro, Celia Cruz left the island where she was born and took advantage of a performance in Mexico with the “Sonora Matancera” orchestra of which she was a solo voice. went into exile in the United States and never returned to his island.