#avaton

While the term Afrogreek is used nowadays for Greek citizens who are second generation immigrants from the African continent, it is a little known fact that there is a small population of old indigenous Afrogreeks, Greeks of distant African descent whose families have been in the country possibly even for centuries.

Most of them are concentrated in the village Ávaton in Xanthi, Thrace and nearby communities. Their African origins go so back in time that the Afrogreeks of Thrace do not know where their ancestors really originated from, although recent research suggests that the majority of their ancestors might have been from Sudan. A few of them travelled to Africa in search for their roots but failed to find any clear answers. Most view themselves only as indigenous Greeks, as they haven't known another land.

It is believed their ancestors arrived here as slaves traded from Africa by the Ottoman Empire. This is why they are in their majority Muslims and many have Turkish as their first or second language, given also that this is the language they practice their religion in. Despite that, the vast majority identifies as Greek Muslim and not as ethnic Turkish. Most of them agree they don't experience racism nowadays, or that “this is a problem they have moved on from”, especially within the borders of Xanthi, however their existence is so little known that their presence sometimes causes bewilderment even to the neighbouring rural Thracian regions, such as Komotini. Here it would be interesting to mention something that I had too speculated some time ago about racism in Greece: Some Afrogreeks said that most racist incidents they experienced were revolving around their religion rather than their skin colour. In their little communities, on the other hand, there is a lot of acceptance. Some of them enjoy a fascinating blend of the two cultures and religions in their everyday life, noting they celebrate Bairam, and Christmas, and Easter and it doesn't matter. The younger generations speak Greek more and more, they follow more closely the Greek pop culture (especially after the rise of the Antetokounmpo brothers) and marriages to white Greeks become more frequent. Older Afrogreeks sometimes oppose to such marriages for no other reason than their care to preserve that small and unique to the Greek land community. Their current population is about 200 people.

In Mrs Reifoglou's words, they are indigenous like the corn that grows there.

Afrogreeks of Thrace now & then.

Photos by Alexandros Avramidis.