Dis A Fi Mi | Caribbean History & Genealogy

Wendy Aris

Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast Hosted by Wendy Aris | Caribbean History Dis A Fi Mi History explores Caribbean history, colonialism, and family genealogy through the stories of the people and communities shaped by the Caribbean past. Hosted by Wendy Aris, the podcast brings together historians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and everyday people to uncover overlooked histories, trace ancestral roots, and explore heritage and regional identity. Discover how family stories connect to the legacies that continue to shape the present. Join host Wendy Aris as she speaks with historians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and everyday people who are piecing together the threads of their family and national histories.

  1. 3d ago

    El Cobre's Fight: Collective Freedom from Colonial Cuba to Madrid

    What happens when a community faces the threat of re-enslavement—and takes its fight for freedom all the way to the Spanish Crown? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with historian Professor Díaz about the remarkable history of El Cobre, an Afro-descendant community in eastern Cuba, whose residents fought collectively to defend their freedom, land, and rights within the Spanish Empire. Following the privatization of the royal mines in 1780, the people of El Cobre faced the threat of mass re-enslavement. Rather than accept this injustice, community members mobilized through the legal system, sending representatives—including Gregorio Cosme—to Madrid to petition for their freedom, land rights, and municipal recognition. This conversation explores the powerful intersection of Afro-Cuban history, slavery, collective resistance, legal activism, and community identity. We examine how the people of El Cobre challenged colonial authority, asserted their longstanding ties to the land, and used legal petitions to defend their rights within an empire built on racial and social hierarchies. We also discuss the importance of local archives and historical records in uncovering marginalized histories. For historians and genealogists, El Cobre’s story demonstrates how archival research can recover overlooked voices, reveal ancestral struggles, and deepen our understanding of freedom, belonging, and rights-making across the Spanish Caribbean. In this episode, discover: The history of El Cobre and its Afro-descendant community in eastern Cuba. How the 1780 privatization of royal mines threatened the community with re-enslavement. The collective lawsuit and the journey to Madrid to defend freedom and land rights. The role of Gregorio Cosme and other community representatives in legal mobilization. How local nativeness, collective identity, and land ownership shaped claims to freedom. Why local archives matter for Caribbean history, genealogy, and recovering marginalized voices. The story of El Cobre reminds us that Caribbean history is not only a history of enslavement and colonial rule. It is also a history of organized resistance, legal strategy, community solidarity, and people asserting their right to determine their own futures.   BIO: About Professor María Elena Díaz María Elena Díaz is Professor Emerita of History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a distinguished scholar of colonial Cuba, Latin American history, and the African diaspora. Her research explores the intersections of slavery, freedom, race, law, identity, and community formation in the Spanish Caribbean and the wider Atlantic world. She is the author of The Virgin, the King, and the Royal Slaves of El Cobre: Negotiating Freedom in Colonial Cuba, 1670–1780 (Stanford University Press, 2000), a landmark study examining how the Afro-descendant community of El Cobre negotiated freedom and developed a distinct collective identity under Spanish colonial rule. Her later book, From Colonial Cuba to Madrid: Litigating Collective Freedom and Native Rights in the Spanish Empire, 1780–1814 (Cambridge University Press, 2024), investigates the community’s extraordinary legal struggle to defend its freedom, land rights, and recognition within the Spanish Empire. Professor Díaz’s scholarship brings together archival research, history, and anthropology to illuminate how marginalized communities challenged colonial authority and asserted their rights. Her work demonstrates the importance of local archives in recovering historical voices and understanding the strategies through which Afro-descendant communities shaped their own histories. Through her research and publications, Professor Díaz has made significant contributions to understanding slavery, resistance, collective freedom, and the complexities of identity in colonial Cuba and the Caribbean.   BOOK LINK: https://www.amazon.ca/Colonial-Cuba-Madrid-Litigating-Collective/dp/1009494228   🎧 Listen to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for a conversation about Afro-Cuban history, resistance to slavery, colonial law, archival discoveries, and the enduring struggle for freedom and recognition. #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #AfroCubanHistory #CubanHistory #CaribbeanHistory #BlackHistory #HistoryOfSlavery #SlaveryResistance #AfroDescendants #SpanishEmpire #ColonialHistory #GenealogyResearch #ArchivalResearch #HistoricalGenealogy #CollectiveResistance #HiddenHistories

  2. Nov 1

    The West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955–1967): Caribbean Women Who Helped Shape Canada

    What did it mean to leave home, migrate to Canada, and build a new life while navigating racism, isolation, and the challenges of domestic work? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with Alexa Lepera about the West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955–1967), a Canadian immigration program that brought approximately 3,000 Black Caribbean women to Canada to work as domestic workers. Together, they explore the scheme’s immigration requirements, the realities of live-in domestic work, and the experiences of women who left their homes and families in search of new opportunities. The conversation examines the community networks that helped women navigate life in Canada, alongside the risks of exploitation, racial discrimination, and isolation created by employer-dependent working and immigration arrangements. Although the scheme offered a pathway to permanent residency and, eventually, Canadian citizenship, the women’s experiences were shaped by broader inequalities involving race, gender, class, labour, and immigration policy. Beyond the challenges, this episode celebrates the resilience, determination, and contributions of these Caribbean women. Their labour, community-building, and advocacy helped establish foundations for Caribbean-Canadian communities and contributed to the social and cultural fabric of modern Canada. Why does the West Indian Domestic Scheme matter today? Understanding this chapter of Canadian immigration history helps us recognise the women behind the policies, honour their sacrifices, and acknowledge the lasting legacy of Caribbean women in shaping Canada. 🎧 Listen to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for a conversation about Caribbean migration, Black Canadian history, women's labour, immigration policy, and the generations of Caribbean women whose stories deserve to be remembered. BIO: About Alexa Lepera, MA Alexa Lepera is an Assistant Curator of Domestic Environments and Social Diversity at Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation. She joined Ingenium in 2022, researching the institution’s collections through the lens of Black and African Canadian history. Alexa’s work focuses on broadening understandings of Canadian science and technology history, with particular attention to domestic environments, community histories, and equitable approaches to museum collections. Her research interests include representations of Black Canadian history in museums, colonial archives of slavery, community-based research, and critical museology. She holds a Master of Arts in Public History from Carleton University, a Master of Arts in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s Studies from York University, and undergraduate degrees in Gender Studies and Political Studies from Queen’s University. She also facilitates Ingenium’s Black and African Canadian Technological Innovations Fellowship. Through her curatorial work and research, Alexa contributes to expanding how Black Canadian histories are documented, interpreted, and shared with the public. Her work helps bring greater attention to the people, communities, and experiences that have shaped Canada’s social and technological history, including the often-overlooked contributions of Black Canadians. Her expertise includes Black and African Canadian history, domestic technology and spaces, community histories, and anti-oppressive museum practices. Article: https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/it-is-all-up-to-you-the-west-indian-domestic-scheme-in-canada-1955-1967?_gl=1*rko4zq*_gcl_au*MjA2MTYxMDA3Ni4xNzkyOTQ2NjM0*_ga*MTA4MTIyNjc2Ny4xNzkyOTQ2NjM1*_ga_8B594QCRBP*czE3OTI5NDY2MzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTI5NDY2MzQkajYwJGwwJGgw   Caribbean Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/ History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/  Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3  Emotions or Researching your Emotions: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1777752809 Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip  Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/  Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/  Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations  Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf  Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add  Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #WestIndianDomesticScheme #CaribbeanCanadianHistory #BlackCanadianHistory #CaribbeanMigration #BlackWomenHistory #CanadianImmigrationHistory #CaribbeanDiaspora #WomenAndWork #HiddenHistories

  3. Oct 25

    From Family History to Historical Fiction: Turning Ancestors’ Stories into Powerful Narratives | Aryn Youngless

    How can genealogy and family history research inspire historical fiction that brings our ancestors’ lives to the page? And how do we honour the truth of their experiences while using imagination to tell the stories that historical records leave behind? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with genealogist and author Aryn Youngless about transforming family history research into compelling historical fiction. Together, they explore how archival discoveries, census records, passenger lists, oral histories and other genealogical resources can reveal unexpected details about our ancestors and inspire stories that connect the past with the present. Aryn shares practical advice for aspiring writers and family historians who want to turn their research into meaningful narratives. From starting with free genealogy resources and verifying historical documents to building timelines and understanding the social, cultural and political context of an ancestor’s life, this conversation explores the importance of research, accuracy and responsible storytelling. But what happens when the records fall silent? How can writers fill the gaps in the historical record without losing sight of the people behind the documents? Erin discusses the balance between documented facts and creative imagination, offering insight into how historical fiction can bring forgotten lives into focus while respecting the experiences and legacies of those who came before us. In this episode, we explore: How genealogy and family history research can inspire historical fiction. Using census records, passenger lists, archival documents and oral histories to uncover ancestral stories. Practical tips for finding and verifying historical records using free genealogy resources. Building family timelines and researching the historical context of your ancestors’ lives. Balancing historical accuracy with imagination when the records leave unanswered questions. Preserving family stories, honouring ancestral legacies and reconnecting emotionally with the past. Why writing our relatives’ stories matters for future generations. Your family history is more than names, dates and documents. Behind every record is a life shaped by its time, place, relationships, challenges and choices. By combining careful genealogical research with thoughtful storytelling, we can give those lives a place in our collective memory. Whether you are a genealogist, family historian, aspiring author or someone just beginning to explore your roots, this conversation offers inspiration and practical guidance for bringing your ancestors’ stories to life. 🎧 Listen to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast and discover how family history can become a powerful foundation for historical fiction, ancestral storytelling and preserving the stories that might otherwise be lost. Because sometimes, the stories waiting to be written are already within our family trees. Walk good.   BIO: About Aryn Youngless Aryn Youngless is a professional genealogist, published author, freelance writer, and family history storyteller with nearly 20 years of experience researching the lives and histories of everyday people. Based in Los Angeles, California, she specialises in genealogical research, historical records, and document retrieval, helping individuals uncover ancestral connections and trace family lineages across generations. Through her publication, Genealogy by Aryn, she shares practical genealogy guidance, historical insights, and stories that explore how migration, social change, laws, and historical events have shaped family histories. Her work encourages researchers to look beyond names and dates to understand the wider historical circumstances in which their ancestors lived. Aryn is also the creator of From Research to Novel™, a programme that helps genealogists transform their research into creative nonfiction and historical fiction. She explores how archival documents, timelines, and historical context can provide the foundation for meaningful storytelling while encouraging writers to balance creative imagination with responsible research. In addition to her writing and genealogy work, Aryn serves on the board of the Los Angeles City Historical Society and is a member of the National Genealogical Society and the Southern California Genealogical Society. Through her research, writing, and teaching, Aryn champions the importance of preserving family stories and bringing the experiences of people often overlooked in historical narratives to a wider audience. Her work reminds us that genealogy is not simply about discovering who our ancestors were, but also about understanding the histories they lived and the legacies they leave behind.   LINKS: Substack: https://substack.com/@genealogybyaryn Website: https://arynyoungless.com/ Linkdin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arynyounglessgenealogy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asyoungless/ https://genealogybyaryn.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/A.S.-Youngless/author/B0CGJM9XVC Medium: https://medium.com/@aryn.genealogy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GenealogybyAryn     Caribbean Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/ History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/  Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3  Emotions or Researching your Emotions: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1777752809 Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip  Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/  Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/  Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations  Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf  Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add  Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)   #Genealogy #HistoricalFiction #FamilyHistory #AncestralStories #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #historyexposed #whatthefact

  4. Oct 18

    The French Caribbean Revolution (1789–1794): Race, Slavery and the Struggle for Equality | Prof Bill Cormack

    What happened when the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity collided with the realities of slavery, colonialism and racial hierarchy in the French Caribbean? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with historian Bill Cormack about the French Revolution and its impact on Martinique and Guadeloupe between 1789 and 1794. Together, they examine how revolutionary politics unfolded in the Caribbean, where competing visions of citizenship, freedom and racial equality challenged established colonial power structures. The conversation explores how free people of colour, white planters and petits blancs (poor and working-class white colonists) negotiated power through colonial militias, public ceremonies and political petitions. We discuss the significance of the 1792 legislation extending political rights to free men of colour, enslaved people's uprisings and claims to revolutionary citizenship, and the role of Victor Hugues in advancing French republican authority and the abolition of slavery in Guadeloupe. How did revolutionary ideals translate into colonial realities? Who was entitled to freedom and citizenship, and who determined the boundaries of equality? And how did the competing interests of race, class, slavery and political allegiance shape the course of revolution across the French Caribbean? This episode offers a deeper look at the complexities of the French Caribbean Revolution and the long struggle over emancipation, racial equality and colonial power—history that remains essential to understanding the wider Caribbean and the Atlantic world.   BIO: About Professor Bill Cormack Professor William S. Cormack is a historian and Professor in the Department of History at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the French Revolution, revolutionary political culture, eighteenth-century naval history, and the impact of revolutionary movements on France’s Caribbean colonies, particularly Martinique and Guadeloupe. Professor Cormack is the author of Revolution and Political Conflict in the French Navy, 1789–1794 (Cambridge University Press, 1995) and Patriots, Royalists, and Terrorists in the West Indies: The French Revolution in Martinique and Guadeloupe, 1789–1802 (University of Toronto Press, 2019). His scholarship examines the competing political loyalties, struggles for authority, and contested interpretations of revolutionary ideals that shaped France and its Caribbean territories during a period of profound upheaval. Holding a PhD from Queen’s University, Professor Cormack has taught at the University of Guelph since 1998. His work offers valuable insight into the complex relationship between the French Revolution and colonial Caribbean society, including the tensions between revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality and the realities of slavery, racial hierarchy, and colonial power.   🎧 Listen to this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for a conversation about the French Revolution, slavery, emancipation, race and the contested meaning of freedom in Martinique and Guadeloupe. #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #FrenchCaribbean #HaitianRevolution #CaribbeanHistory #HistoryOfSlavery

  5. Oct 14

    Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise: Andrew Rowan on Taíno History, Christopher Columbus & Indigenous Caribbean Resistance

    What if the story of Christopher Columbus was told through the voices of the Taíno people? How would it change our understanding of Caribbean history, Indigenous resistance, and the origins of colonialism? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes author and historian Andrew Rowan to discuss his groundbreaking book, Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise, 1492–1502. Drawing on primary historical sources, archaeology, anthropology, and early Spanish accounts, Rowan reexamines one of the most pivotal periods in world history through both European and Taíno perspectives. The conversation explores the remarkable leadership of Queen Isabel I of Castile and Chief Anacaona, one of the Caribbean's most influential Indigenous leaders, whose diplomacy, resilience, and courage shaped the early encounters between Europeans and the Taíno people. Rowan discusses how language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and competing worldviews influenced the course of history, ultimately contributing to the rise of colonial rule in the Caribbean. Together, they examine the beginnings of the encomienda system, the emergence of mestizo society, Indigenous resistance to Spanish conquest, and the political events that led to Christopher Columbus's removal from power. Rowan also explains how historians can recover Indigenous perspectives by critically reading colonial records alongside anthropology, archaeology, and oral traditions. This episode challenges long-standing narratives of discovery and conquest, offering listeners a richer understanding of Taíno history, Indigenous Caribbean history, colonialism, and the enduring legacy these events continue to have on Caribbean identity, genealogy, and the African and Indigenous diasporas. Whether you're interested in Caribbean history, Taíno culture, Indigenous studies, genealogy, Atlantic World history, or historical research, this conversation provides a compelling new perspective on one of history's most consequential encounters. In This Episode ✔️ The true story behind Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise ✔️ The leadership of Queen Isabel I and Chief Anacaona ✔️ Taíno resistance to Spanish conquest ✔️ Christopher Columbus and the events leading to his removal from power ✔️ Language, culture, and misunderstanding during first contact ✔️ The origins of the encomienda system and colonial society ✔️ The emergence of mestizo communities in the Caribbean ✔️ Using primary sources, archaeology, and anthropology to recover Indigenous voices ✔️ Why rethinking conquest narratives is essential to understanding Caribbean history today If you're passionate about Caribbean genealogy, Indigenous history, Black history, Atlantic World studies, historical preservation, and the untold stories that shaped the Americas, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 🎧 Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for engaging conversations exploring Caribbean history, genealogy, African diaspora studies, Indigenous history, archival research, and the people whose stories continue to shape our understanding of the past.   BIO: Andrew Rowan is an author and independent historian whose research focuses on the early history of the Caribbean, the Taíno people, and the first encounters between Indigenous societies and Europeans. He is the author of Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise, 1492–1502, which reexamines the Columbian era through Indigenous and European perspectives using primary historical sources, archaeology, and anthropology to illuminate overlooked voices and reshape traditional conquest narratives.   Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Isabel-Anacaona-Columbuss-Demise-1498-1502/dp/0999196162   History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/  Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV  Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3  Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0  The Emotions of Researching your Family Tree: https://www.amazon.ca/Emotions-Researching-Your-Family-Tree-ebook/dp/   Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip  Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/  Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/  Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations  Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf  Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add    This episode was recorded at Waterfront Studio Link: https://www.waterfront.studio/home  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterfront.studio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waterfrontstudio905/    Recorded Music Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #AndrewRowan #IsabelAnacona #Anacaona #ChristopherColumbus #TainoHistory #IndigenousCaribbean #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanGenealogy #IndigenousHistory #ColonialHistory #SpanishConquest #Encomienda #AtlanticWorld #HistoricalResearch #PrimarySources #Archaeology #Anthropology #CaribbeanIdentity #HistoryPodcast #WendyAris

  6. Oct 4

    Caribbean Food History: The Stories Behind What’s on Your Plate | Roger Carmichael of Uncharted Tastes

    What does the food on your plate tell you about Caribbean history? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with Roger Carmichael of Uncharted Tastes about the fascinating history behind Caribbean food and the many peoples, cultures, migrations and traditions that have shaped what we eat today. Caribbean cuisine is not simply a collection of recipes. It is a record of history, migration, survival, adaptation, trade, culture and memory. Together, Wendy and Roger explore the Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Chinese and other influences that have contributed to the diverse food traditions found throughout the Caribbean. From ingredients and cooking techniques to recipes passed down through generations, the food we eat can reveal stories about colonialism, migration, the African diaspora, Indigenous Caribbean peoples, indentureship, trade and cultural exchange. The episode also explores sustainability, food heritage and cultural memory, encouraging us to look more closely at the everyday foods we may take for granted. 🌴 What is the history behind Caribbean food? 🍲 How did different cultures influence Caribbean cuisine? 🌍 How did migration shape the foods we eat? 🌱 What can food tell us about sustainability and our relationship with the land? 📖 How do recipes preserve family and cultural memory? 🔎 What happens when we become curious about where our food comes from? The next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: Where did this dish come from? Who grew the ingredients? Who brought them? Who changed the recipe? Who passed it down? And what history is sitting on your plate? Join us for a conversation about Caribbean food history, cultural heritage, migration, foodways and the stories hidden within the dishes we eat. Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast explores Caribbean history, genealogy, family history, archives, culture and the stories that deserve to be remembered. 🎙️ Guest Roger Carmichael — Uncharted Tastes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unchartedtastes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unchartedtastestv Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unchartedtastes TikTock: https://www.tiktok.com/@unchartedtastes Website: https://keap.page/lfsm/uncharted-tastes.html   #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanFood #CaribbeanFoodHistory #CaribbeanCuisine #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanCulture #CaribbeanHeritage #FoodHistory #FoodHeritage #CaribbeanFoodways #AfricanDiaspora #AfricanFoodways #IndigenousCaribbean #CaribbeanMigration #CulturalMemory #FoodAndCulture #JamaicanFood #CaribbeanCooking #CaribbeanStories #UnchartedTastes #HistoricalStorytelling

  7. Sep 27 ·  Bonus

    Season 10 Launch: Uncovering Caribbean Family Histories & Hidden Archives

    Season 10 of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast is here! Join Wendy Aris, Caribbean historian, genealogist, author, and host of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, for another season exploring Caribbean history, family history, genealogy, archival research, migration, memoir, culture, and the stories that shape our understanding of the Caribbean and its people. Season 10 explores the power of language and storytelling—how books, articles, memoirs, family stories, archives, DNA, and personal memories can help us uncover histories that are often overlooked, misunderstood, or left out of the traditional narrative. This season takes us across the Caribbean, Scotland, Cuba, Jamaica, Canada, the United States, and the African diaspora, exploring topics including: 🔎 Caribbean genealogy and family history research 📜 Archives, historical records and hidden Caribbean histories ⛓️ Caribbean slavery, the British Empire and the transatlantic slave trade 🌍 Migration and Caribbean diaspora stories 🧬 Genetic genealogy, DNA testing and African ancestry 💭 The emotional impact of researching difficult family histories ✍🏾 Writing and documenting your family's history 📚 Memoirs, books and using the written word to preserve memory 🍲 Caribbean food, culture and the history behind what is on our plates 🎥 Historical documentary and archival storytelling We will also explore unexpected connections between Scotland and Caribbean slavery, colonial Cuba and Madrid, Jamaican and Caribbean migration to Canada, the complexities of African ancestry, and the networks that connected the Caribbean with North America, Britain and beyond. Alongside the podcast, Wendy is also introducing Archival Griot Films, a new film project bringing Caribbean history, genealogy, archival records and ancestral stories to life through documentary filmmaking and visual storytelling. Follow along for behind-the-scenes updates, research, filming and developments from the project. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArchivalGriotFilms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archival_griot_films/   This season is about more than finding names and dates. It is about asking questions, reading between the records, understanding the history behind our families, and bringing stories that deserve to be remembered to light. 🎙️ Subscribe, follow, listen, and join the conversation. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review, share and click that star—your support helps Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast reach new listeners around the world. Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast — Caribbean history. Family history. Archives. Memory. Stories that deserve to be told. #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanGenealogy #BlackGenealogy #FamilyHistory #FamilyHistoryResearch #Genealogy #BlackHistory #AfricanDiaspora #CaribbeanHeritage #JamaicanHistory #CaribbeanCulture #ArchivalResearch #HistoricalResearch #GeneticGenealogy #DNA #AfricanAncestry #CaribbeanHistoryPodcast #HistoricalDocumentary #ArchivalStorytelling #CaribbeanDiaspora #MigrationStories #HiddenHistory #ArchivalGriotFilms

  8. Sep 20

    DNA, Surnames & Secrets: Tracing the Sotomayor Line from 1573

    How far back can DNA and genealogy take you? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, we explore the fascinating history of the Sotomayor family in Puerto Rico, tracing ancestral connections back to the late 1500s through the combination of genetic genealogy, archival research, and historical records. Professor Antonio Sotomayor explains how Y-DNA testing, TMRCA (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor), agnatic lineages, surname variations, and maternal ancestry can help genealogists uncover connections hidden within incomplete Caribbean records. The conversation examines the variations between Sotomayor and Soto, as well as maternal family connections including González de la Cruz and Colón de Santiago. We also explore the challenges researchers face when parish registers and other historical records have gaps, been lost, or provide limited information. Learn how DNA genealogy can help fill historical silences, complement traditional archival research, and provide new clues for tracing Caribbean ancestors across centuries. Professor Sotomayor also shares practical advice for researching Puerto Rican and Caribbean genealogy, including which DNA tests may be useful, how to understand historical context, why surname research requires flexibility, and the importance of collaborating with other family historians and researchers. Whether you're researching Puerto Rican ancestry, Caribbean genealogy, Spanish colonial history, DNA matches, or family history, this episode offers valuable strategies for breaking through genealogical brick walls and discovering connections across generations. 🎙️ Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for conversations about Caribbean history, genealogy, DNA, archives, migration, and the stories hidden within our family trees. BIO: Dr. Antonio Sotomayor, Ph.D. is an associate professor, historian, and librarian specializing in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois. He serves as the Librarian for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and holds faculty appointments in History and Spanish and Portuguese, with affiliated appointments in the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies, and the Center for Global Studies. His research interests include Caribbean and Latin American history, identity, nationalism, international relations, religion, genealogy, family history, and the politics of culture. Dr. Sotomayor is also an accomplished author whose scholarship explores Puerto Rico and its connections to broader histories of colonialism, identity, politics, and culture. His book, The Sovereign Colony: Olympic Sport, National Identity, and International Politics in Puerto Rico, received the 2017 José Toribio Medina Book Award. He co-edited Olimpismo: The Olympic Movement in the Making of Latin America and the Caribbean and is currently working on Religious Games: The YMCA, Sport, and Imperial Statecraft in Cuba and Puerto Rico, 1898–1940s. Genealogy is also a significant part of Dr. Sotomayo   Links: https://www.asotomayor.com/ https://www.asotomayor.com/genealogy https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-sotomayor-ph-d-64443625/ https://jogg.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/101-Issue.pdf https://www.asotomayor.com/familiaypoder   #PuertoRicoGenealogy #PuertoRicoHistory #CaribbeanGenealogy #GeneticGenealogy #DNAGenealogy #FamilyHistory #GenealogyResearch #YDNA #DNAAncestry #Sotomayor #PuertoRicanAncestry #CaribbeanHistory #Genealogy #AncestryResearch #SpanishColonialHistory #FamilyTree #GenealogyDNA #GenealogyPodcast #HistoryPodcast #DisAFiMiHistory

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Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast Hosted by Wendy Aris | Caribbean History Dis A Fi Mi History explores Caribbean history, colonialism, and family genealogy through the stories of the people and communities shaped by the Caribbean past. Hosted by Wendy Aris, the podcast brings together historians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and everyday people to uncover overlooked histories, trace ancestral roots, and explore heritage and regional identity. Discover how family stories connect to the legacies that continue to shape the present. Join host Wendy Aris as she speaks with historians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and everyday people who are piecing together the threads of their family and national histories.

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