Notable Afro Peruvians

Susana Matute Charun

Susana Matute Charún is an Afro-Peruvian activist, educator, and politician. Her work has focused on the visibility and the advocacy of public policies for Afro-Peruvian communities. She has extensive experience in the public sector, working across various government agencies, focusing on intercultural policies that address inequalities affecting Black communities in Peru. She served for more than 8 years as the Director of Public Policies for Afro-Peruvian People in the Bureau of Culture. In 2026, she ran for Vice President of the political party El Buen Gobierno and was also elected to the Peruvian Congress.

Monica Carrillo

Monica Carrillo Zegarra is a journalist, poet, artist, and activist whose work engages deeply with themes of race, gender, and Afro-Peruvian identity. She is the founder of LUNDU, an Afro-Peruvian organization that advocates for Afro-Peruvian human rights, with a particular focus on Black women and Youth. Her antiracist fight has also been visible in her advocacy work for removing Black face characters from the Peruvian national TV, which repeats colonial and racist stereotypes about Blackness.

Esther "Mamaine" Cartagena

Esther Cartagena Castrillon, also known as "Mamaine," is a chef, cultural organizer, and politician. She received notoriety for her work in her restaurant "El Refugio de Mamaine," where she preserves traditional Afro-Peruvian culinary practices in Guayabo, El Carmen, Chincha, Peru. In addition to her work at her restaurant, she has served as an advocate for the rights of Afro-Peruvian women and has experience in political spaces, having served as the Regional Councilor of Chincha.

Eva Ayllon

Eva Ayllón is one of the most iconic Afro-Peruvian singers, internationally recognized for her powerful voice and her contributions to the global visibility of Afro-Peruvian music. She has played a central role in popularizing genres such as landó, festejo, and other coastal rhythms, bringing Afro-Peruvian traditions to major international stages.