Afro-Cypriots in Cyprus: the history of a community that is rarely spoken about

For centuries, a community of African origin has existed in Cyprus, with its presence on the island traceable at least to the Ottoman period. The emergence of this community is linked to trade routes within the Ottoman Empire, from which people from East Africa, including Sudan and Ethiopia, arrived on the island to work in agriculture, ports, fishing and mining.

Where they lived and how their fate changed:
• Until the mid-20th century, Afro-Cypriots lived in Episkopi, the Famagusta area and villages near the present-day Ercan airport (Tymbou). Many worked in the port of Famagusta.
• After the division of Cyprus in 1974 and the population movements, families were scattered, which made the community less visible in public space.

Misperceptions and colorism:
• Researcher Serap Kanay notes that Afro-Cypriots are often mistaken for recent migrants or students, although their families have lived on the island for many generations and are spread across different regions, not only in Palekithro.
• Due to the dominance of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot conflict in the history of the