People of African origin in Portugal

The presence of black people in Portugal has been known from Roman times. But from the mid 15^th century until 1769 there was an unstoppable flow of slaves to the realm; and again today a flow of free people of African origin.

The slave population arriving from the 15^th to 18^th centuries was distributed throughout clerical, professional and bourgeois society, acting as house slaves, boatmen, fishermen, errand-boys, agricultural labourers, cleaners and water-carriers. The San Romao do Sado area of Setubal has been studied particularly. Here, there is already some evidence in the 16^th century of a free, half-caste population. By the 17^th century, farmers, priests and the military were the largest group of slave owners; but documents of this time also mention free black men. Almost from the beginning of modern slavery in Portugal there were procedures for the freeing of slaves, either by a merciful act to ensure a ‘good death', by friendship and acknowledgement of services, with or without conditions, or by self-purchase of freedom through Brotherhoods. Setubal's Our Lady of the Rosary Brotherhood was established in 1584.

In the Alcader do Sal region of the District of Setubal, a small black population intermingled with the indigenous one. The black population was more resistant to Marsh Disease and the resulting population there today, which has been the subject of a scientific study, still reflects many African characteristics. On the left bank of the Sado river and facing the town of Setubal is the Fountain of the Blackmen, attesting to a past black community there and still visible today.

Since 1974 a big influx of immigrants of African origin from Sierra Leone, East Timor and Mozambique has taken place, amounting to almost 10% of Portugal's population today. Portugal is a truly multi-cultural society, and this is reflected in Setubal through visitors and activities at Setubal Museums.