Essays

Long-form Writing

Articles, reflections, and scholarly analysis on Badiu history, identity, genetics, and culture. Rooted in evidence, written for both scholars and community members.

GeneticsIdentityMethodologyScience

DNA Is Not Destiny: What Genetics Can and Cannot Tell Us About Badiu Identity

By Badiu Heritage Project · December 1, 2024

Genetic ancestry tests have become enormously popular — and enormously misunderstood. Here we examine what population genetics actually reveals about the Badiu, and why a percentage on a screen is not the whole story.

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IdentityLanguageHistoryResistance

The Word 'Badiu': From Colonial Slur to Reclaimed Identity

By Badiu Heritage Project · November 15, 2024

For centuries, colonial authorities weaponized the word 'Badiu' to demean the African communities of Santiago's interior. Today, it is worn as a badge of pride. How did this transformation happen — and what does it tell us about identity, resistance, and power?

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