Julio Pinedo
| Julio I | |
|---|---|
| File:ReyJulioPinedo.png | |
| King of the Afro-Bolivians | |
| Reign | 18 April 1992 – present |
| Coronation | 3 November 2007[1] |
| Predecessor | Bonifacio I |
| Heir apparent | Rolando Julio |
| Born | 19 February 1942 Mururata, Bolivia |
| Spouse | Angélica Larrea (m. 1976) |
| Issue | Rolando Pinedo Larrea (adopted) |
| Names Julio Bonifaz Pinedo y Pinedo | |
| House | Pinedo |
| Father | Prince Genaro Pinedo |
| Mother | Princess Aurora Pinedo |
Julio Pinedo — Don Julio Bonifaz Pinedo y Pinedo (born 19 February 1942) is the ceremonial king of the Afro-Bolivian community of the Nor Yungas province,[2] crowned in 1992, forty years after the death of the previous king, his grandfather Bonifacio Pinedo.[3] His coronation took place during a Catholic ceremony in the chapel at the hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo.[4]
Early life
Julio was born on 19 February 1942 in Mururata to Prince Genaro Pinedo and Princess Aurora Pinedo. He is a descendent of Uchicho, an African prince who was enslaved by the Spanish and brought to Bolivia, where he was later appointed as the first Afro-Bolivian king. At the time of his birth, his maternal grandfather Bonifacio Pinedo, reigned as the King of the Afro-Bolivians. Following his grandfather's death in 1954, Julio's mother became Princess Regent, until he was old enough to succeed the title.
Reign
He was crowned by the Afro-Bolivians as King Julio I on 18 April 1992, during a Catholic coronation ceremony at the chapel of the hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo. His position as King of the Afro-Bolivians gained official recognition from the Bolivian government in 2007, when he was officially installed by the prefect of La Paz.[5][6]
As king, he is the sovereign and Grand Master of the Royal Order of Merit of Prince Uchicho.[7] He appointed Bishop Juan Vargas Aruquipa, Prince Alexander David Ssimbwa of Buganda, Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja of Buganda, Katikkiro John Baptist Walusimbi of Buganda, Miguel Dongil y Sánchez, and Francisco Manuel de las Heras y Borrero to the order.[7]
In 2016, he went on a royal tour to Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.[8]
In 2019, Julio was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega by King Solomon Iguru I of Bunyoro.[9]
Marriage and family life
Julio married Angélica Larrea in 1976. He and Angélica have no biological children,[10] but adopted his nephew and heir, Prince Rolando.[11]
He is Catholic and, when not performing royal duties, works as a farmer and shop owner in Mururata.[12][13]
Honours
- Grand Master of the Royal Order of Merit of Prince Uchicho
- Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega
References
- Back to citation Some sources say it's 3 December 2007.
- Back to citation Levinson, David (1996). Encyclopedia of World Cultures: South America. G. K. Hall. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-8168-8840-5.
- Back to citation Walker, Sheila S. (2001). Africa roots/American cultures: Africa in the creation of the Americas. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-7425-0165-2.
- Back to citation "Le roi Julio Pinedo: Le dernier roi d'Amérique". 21 March 2021.
- Back to citation Tayac, Gabrielle (2009). IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas. Smithsonian Institution. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-58834-271-3.
- Back to citation "Bolivia ya tiene su rey negro". BBC Mundo. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 "Real Orden del Mérito". Afro-Bolivian Royal House. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- Back to citation Blair, Laurence (6 December 2017). "Bolivia's Afro king leads a long-neglected group stepping out of the shadows". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- Back to citation https://casarealafroboliviana.org/noticias.html
- Back to citation "Crowning Afro-descendant Memory and Visibility in an Indian/Mestizo Country on JSTOR". No. 127, Afro-Latin America Rising (2019).
- Back to citation "African royal's heirs live on in Bolivia - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. December 22, 2014.
- Back to citation "El último rey de América". La Nacion. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- Back to citation Busqué, Jordi (11 March 2021). "Bolivia's little-known tribal kingdom". BBC. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
External links
| Julio Pinedo Afro-Bolivian Royal House Born: 19 February 1942 | ||
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Aurora Pinedo as princess-regent |
Afro-Bolivian King 1992–present |
Incumbent Heir apparent: Rolando Julio Pinedo Larrea |