Alberto Abdala, a lawyer and politician of Lebanese descent, who served as member of the National Council of Government (1963-1937) and, later, Vice President of Uruguay (1968-1972). | |
Total population | |
---|---|
Various estimates for descents: | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Montevideo, Chuy | |
Languages | |
Uruguayan Spanish, Lebanese Arabic | |
Religion | |
Christians (majority) and Islam (minority) |
There are about 53,000 [1] to 75,000 [3] Lebanese Uruguayans, or Uruguayans of Lebanese origin. The Lebanese are one of the larger non-European communities, though still not as large a group as most European groups. [2] Relations between Uruguay and Lebanon have always been close. [4]
The first Lebanese immigrants to Uruguay arrived in the 1860s, settling in Montevideo around Juan Lindolfo Cuestas street. [5] These early immigrants were mainly Maronite Christians, speaking only Arabic. The last great influx of Lebanese came in the 1920s along with other nationalities like Europeans[ which? ]. Between 1908 and 1930, Montevideo's population doubled. [6] Some of them also settled in the frontier city of Rivera. [7]
On January 21, 1924, the Apostolic Missionary of Maronites was established by decree in Uruguay. On March 10, 1925, Monseñor Shallita arrived in Montevideo from Naples to lead the mission. [8]
The early settlers faced some discrimination as "Asiatics", [9] and a few were unable to adapt and returned to their homeland. However, most became established as small businessmen and entrepreneurs, and successfully adjusted to the society of their adopted country. Although retaining some cultural characteristics, notably the Lebanese cuisine, most Uruguayans of Lebanese origin no longer speak Arabic and have fully assimilated. [10]
In 1997, the house speaker of Uruguay visited Lebanon and met Patriarch Sfeir. He noted that the 99-seat parliament in Uruguay included two members with Lebanese origins including himself. [11] In 1954 there were 15,000 people of Lebanese descent living in Uruguay. [12] By 2009 the number had grown to between 53,000 [1] and 70,000. [2] In July 2009, the Lebanese Society in Uruguay celebrated its 75th anniversary. [13] The 2011 Uruguayan census revealed 136 people who declared Lebanon as their country of birth. [14]
The majority of Lebanese-Uruguayans are Christians who belong to various churches, including the Maronite Church (they have their own church, Our Lady of Lebanon), [15] Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Melkite Catholic. There was also a small presence of Lebanese Jews. [16] A scant number are Muslims.
Arab diaspora is a term that refers to descendants of the Arab emigrants who, voluntarily or as forcibly, migrated from their native lands to non-Arab countries, primarily in the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.
Asian Argentines, are Argentine citizens or residents of Asian ancestry. The vast majority trace their ancestry to West Asia, primarily Lebanon and Syria, and East Asia, namely China and Japan. Though there are other communities of South Asian or Southeast Asian origin as well. Asian-Argentines settled in Argentina in large numbers during several waves of immigration in the twentieth century.
Lebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries. There are more Lebanese living outside Lebanon than within the country. The diaspora population consists of Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Jews. The Christians trace their origin to several waves of emigration, starting with the exodus that followed the 1860 Lebanon conflict in Ottoman empire.
The Lebanese people are the people inhabiting or originating from Lebanon. The term may also include those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state. The major religious groups among the Lebanese people within Lebanon are Shia Muslims (27%), Sunni Muslims (27%), Maronite Christians (21%), Greek Orthodox Christians (8%), Melkite Christians (5%), Druze (5%), Protestant Christians (1%). The largest contingent of Lebanese, however, comprise a diaspora in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Africa, which is predominantly Maronite Christian.
Argentina has a racially and ethnically diverse population. The territory of what today is Argentina was first inhabited by numerous indigenous peoples. The first white settlers came during the period of Spanish colonization, beginning in the 16th century. The Spaniards imported African slaves, who would go on to become the first Afro-Argentines. Following independence from Spain in the 19th century and well into the 20th century, numerous migration waves took place, with Argentina being the second most popular destination for migrants in the early 20th century, after the United States. Most of these migrants came from Europe.
Arab Colombians refers to Arab immigrants and their descendants in the Republic of Colombia. Most of the migrants came from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine. When they were first processed in the ports of Colombia, they were classified as Turks because what is now Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine were then territories of the Ottoman Empire. It is estimated that Colombia has a Lebanese population of 3.2 million. Meanwhile the Palestine population is estimated between 100,000-120,000.
Lebanese Brazilians, are Brazilians of full or partial Lebanese ancestry, including Lebanese-born immigrants to Brazil. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, they form some of the largest Asian communities in the country, along with other West Asian and East Asian descendants.
Arab Argentine refers to Argentine citizens or residents whose ancestry traces back to various waves of immigrants, largely of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage and/or identity originating mainly from what is now Lebanon and Syria, but also some individuals from the twenty-two countries which comprise the Arab world such as Palestine, Egypt and Morocco. Arab Argentines are one of the largest Arab diaspora groups in the world.
Lebanese Ecuadorians are Ecuadorians who are descended from migrants from Lebanon. There are approximately 100,000 Lebanese people and their descendants living in Ecuador.
Diplomatic relations between the countries Argentina and Lebanon, have existed for over a century. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Lebanese immigration to Argentina. There are approximately 1.5 million Argentines of Lebanese descent. The Lebanese community in Argentina is the third largest immigrant community in the country and Argentina is host to the second largest community in Latin America. Both nations are members of the Group of 24 and the United Nations.
Uruguay recognized Lebanon's independence on November 22, 1943. Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1945.
Arab Venezuelans refers to Venezuelan citizens of Arab origin or descent. There are around 1,600,000 Venezuelans of Arab origin, mainly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. Most Arab Venezuelans are of Syrian descent with their number between 400,000 and 1 million inhabitants, and Lebanese descent with their number between 341,000 and 500,000.
Lebanese Mexicans refers to Mexican citizens of Lebanese origin.
A Lebanese Venezuelan is a Venezuelan citizen of Lebanese origin or descent. There are around 340,000 to 500,000 people of Lebanese ancestry.
Syrian Argentines are Argentine citizens of Syrian descent or Syrian-born people who reside in Argentina. Argentina has the second highest number of Syrians in South America after Brazil. Syrian immigration to Argentina has been and is currently, one of the most important Arab migration flows into Argentina. Immigration waves peaked in the 20th century, although in recent years due to the constant wars in the Middle East, immigration from Syria has been increasing over time. Like other Arab Argentines, they are universally known as "turcos" ("Turks"), like in the rest of Latin American countries.
The Church of Our Lady of Lebanon is a Maronite parish church in the neighbourhood of Sayago, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Immigration to Uruguay began in several millennia BCE with the arrival of different populations from Asia to the Americas through Beringia, according to the most accepted theories, and were slowly populating the Americas. The most recent waves of immigrants started with the arrival of Spaniards in the 16th century, during the colonial period, to what was then known as the Banda Oriental.
Lebanon–Mexico relations are the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Mexico. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Lebanese immigration to Mexico. Both nations are members of the Group of 24 and the United Nations.
Arab Uruguayans are residents or citizens of Uruguay of Arab ethnicity, whose ancestry predominantly traces back to any of various waves of immigrants from the Arab world, especially Lebanon and Syria.
Arab Cubans refers to Arab immigrants and their descendants in Cuba and the Cuban diaspora. Most of Cuba's Arab community come from Syrian, Lebanese or Palestinian backgrounds.
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