Afro-Bolivian monarchy

Angélica Larrea, wife of King Julio Pinedo, and Queen of the Afro-Bolivian community in 2012

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is a ceremonial monarchy recognized as part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, which does not interfere with the system of the Presidential republic in force within the country. The monarchy is treated as a customary leader of the Afro-Bolivian community by the government.

The components of this royal house are the descendants of an old African tribal monarchy that were brought to Bolivia as slaves.^[1] The founding monarch, Uchicho, was allegedly of Kongo and Senegalese origin, and was brought to the Hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo, in the area of Los Yungas in what is now La Paz Department. Other slaves allegedly recognized him as a man of regal background when seeing his torso exposed with tattoos bearing markings only held by royalty. He was crowned in 1823, and was succeeded by Bonifaz, who adopted the surname of Pinedo, the plantation owner. Bonifaz was succeeded by Don José and Don Bonifacio, the later of whom was crowned in 1932. When Bonifacio died in 1954, the house was led by his oldest daughter Doña Aurora. Aurora's oldest son, Julio Pinedo was given the title of king in 1992.

The Royal House was officially recognized by the Bolivian state in 2007 with the public coronation of Julio, the current King of the Afro-Bolivian community, which was done by the authorities of the La Paz Department.^[2]

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