The power of the aromatic herbs of the Azoteas. Stories of Empowerment from the Afro-Colombian Women of Guapi (Cauca, Colombia)

In certain geopolitical contexts, women’s creative act of using aromas and spices to characterize and give flavour to dishes can become a powerful tool for gender claim and identity affirmation, and an economic resource to support women’s autonomy. Like in the case of the Afro-descendant women in Guapi, Colombia. What made it possible was the Law 70 of 1993 issued in favor of the fundamental rights of the Afro-Colombians. This law implemented the claims for autonomy and gender enhancement and for the empowerment of women. It also set in motion a large amount of national and international public funds to promote the visibility of the Afro-descendant world. The Guapi women presented impressive projects, as the one on the “return” of the production of aromatic herbs for cooking based on the forgotten sustainable horticultural technique, azotea. “Recovery” projects like this created economic chances for matrifocal families and opportunities for the visibility of the Afro-Colombian culture, also allowing the valorisation of organizational skills based on solidarity between women and on the safeguard of the knowledge of the environmental resources.