Tereza de Benguela and Afro‑descendant Women Celebrated Across Latin America on July 25

July 25 marks the International Day of Afro‑descendant Women and, in Brazil, the National Day of Tereza de Benguela, the 18th‑century quilombola leader. In Brazil, events included a march of Black women in Rio de Janeiro, the inauguration of the Maju Coutinho Library in Rio, a judicial proclamation in Mato Grosso highlighting the month of Black women, and a cultural program in Salvador showcasing Black artists. Activists such as Selma Dealdina Mbaye demanded urgent land titling for more than 8 000 quilombola territories that house over 1.3 million people. In Argentina, community leader Nélida Wisneke called for greater recognition of Afro‑Argentine history and highlighted census under‑counting of Afro‑descendant populations. Uruguay hosted discussions on Afro‑descendant contributions and the need for reparative policies. Cuba held a colloquium on Afro‑descendant women’s issues amid its broader socioeconomic crisis. The day also prompted literary selections of Afro‑descendant authors and widespread media coverage of the historical legacy of women like Tereza de Benguela.