Lebanese Uruguayan
Encyclopedia
There are about 53,000 to 70,000 Lebanese Uruguayans, or Uruguay
ans of Lebanese
origin. The Lebanese are the most numerous community in Uruguay after the Spanish and Italians. Relations
between Uruguay and Lebanon
have always been close.
around Juan Lindolfo Cuestas street. These early immigrants were mainly Maronite
Christians, speaking only Arabic. The last great influx of Lebanese came in the 1920s along with other ethnic groups like Syrians and eastern Europeans. Between 1908 and 1930, Montevideo's population doubled.
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.
The early settlers faced some discrimination as "Asiatics", 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.
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. In 1954 there were 15,000 people of Lebanese descent
living in Uruguay. By 2009 the number had grown to between 53,000 and 70,000. In July 2009, the Lebanese Society in Uruguay will celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
ans of Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
origin. The Lebanese are the most numerous community in Uruguay after the Spanish and Italians. Relations
Lebanon–Uruguay relations
Lebanon–Uruguay relations are foreign relations between Lebanon and Uruguay. Uruguay recognized Lebanon's independence on November 22, 1943. Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1945. Lebanon has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Beirut.-Lebanese in...
between Uruguay and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
have always been close.
History
The first Lebanese immigrants to Uruguay arrived in the 1860s, settling in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
around Juan Lindolfo Cuestas street. These early immigrants were mainly Maronite
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
Christians, speaking only Arabic. The last great influx of Lebanese came in the 1920s along with other ethnic groups like Syrians and eastern Europeans. Between 1908 and 1930, Montevideo's population doubled.
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
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to lead the mission.
The early settlers faced some discrimination as "Asiatics", 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
Lebanese cuisine
Lebanese cuisine includes an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood; animal fats are consumed sparingly. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten it is usually lamb on the coast and goat meat in the mountain regions...
, most Uruguayans of Lebanese origin no longer speak Arabic and have fully assimilated.
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. In 1954 there were 15,000 people of Lebanese descent
Lebanese diaspora
Lebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who by choice or coercion emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries....
living in Uruguay. By 2009 the number had grown to between 53,000 and 70,000. In July 2009, the Lebanese Society in Uruguay will celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Notable Uruguayans of Lebanese origin
- Felipe SeadeFelipe SeadeFelipe Seade was an Uruguayan painter and teacher of Lebanese descent who spent most of his life in Uruguay.Seade was born in Santiago de Chile, the elder son of a Lebanese immigrant family. Eleven years later his whole family moved to Montevideo, Uruguay...
(1912 – 18 January 1969) was a social-realist painter and teacher born in Santiago de Chile, the elder son of a Lebanese immigrant family, who spent most of his life in Uruguay after moving to Montevideo at the age of 12.
- Alberto AbdalaAlberto AbdalaAlberto Abdala Uruguayan politician, painter and Vice-President from 1967 to 1972.-Background:Alberto Abdala was born in Maldonado, Uruguay in 1920. He was of Lebanese descent.He was a member of the Colorado Party...
(1920–1986), born of Lebanese immigrant parents, was a Uruguayan politician and painter who was Vice-President of Uruguay from 1967 to 1972. He was noted for his abstract compositions in oil on glass.
- Bruno Sfeir is a well-known painter whose work shows Cubist, Constructivist and surrealist influences, somewhat reminiscent of the school of art initiated by Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres GarcíaJoaquín Torres GarcíaJoaquín Torres García , was a Uruguayan plastic artist and art theorist, also known as the founder of Constructive Universalism...
. - Jorge Aramburu is a noted photographer who has been employed by the United Nations since 1982 documenting peacekeeping missions in the Western Sahara, Yugoslavia, Guatemala, Eritrea and Lebanon.