Echoes of resistance through the archives: Black women’s leadership in anticolonial struggles in Colombia

This paper examines the often-overlooked leadership of Black women in anticolonial struggles in Colombia, challenging dominant narratives that have marginalised their contributions. Through a decolonial feminist framework, this study explores how Black women, navigating colonial legal systems and social structures, asserted their agency in various forms, including cultural preservation, legal resistance and organised uprisings. Drawing on extensive archival research from the General Archives of Colombia, the article explores the roles of women such as Catalina, accused of witchcraft for her healing practices; Simona, who fought for her freedom through manumission; and the Black women who participated in the Zaragoza uprising. These acts of resistance not only highlight Black women’s pivotal role in defying colonial oppression but also underscore broader themes, such as the erasure of African knowledge systems and the resilience of Afro-Colombian communities. By disrupting historical erasures, this research contributes to the ongoing discussion of the lasting impact of coloniality on contemporary social structures in Colombia. In this context, Black women’s leadership has been crucial in defying the colonial logic that underpins the state, pressing for the full recognition of Black humanity.