Elisa Rizo publishes work in Afro-Hispanic Review

Elisa Rizo, associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, recently published an article that explores how Cuban artists Roberto Diago and René Peña challenge the metaphor of the ajiaco criollo—a stew-like symbol coined by Fernando Ortiz to describe Cuban identity as a harmonious blend of diverse cultural ingredients. Rizo critiques this idealized fusion, showing how it masks racial hierarchies and silences Afro-Cuban histories. Diago, through textured sculptures and installations, acts as a cultural archaeologist, exposing wounds of slavery and celebrating Black resilience. His art stitches together forgotten fragments, transforming scars into symbols of regeneration and community. Peña, using his own body in provocative photography, critiques racial, class, and gender norms, exposing the contradictions of Cuba’s “raceless” state. His surreal compositions evoke discomfort and dialogue, confronting viewers with the realities of cultural erasure. Together, Diago and Peña propose a “post-ajiaco” aesthetic—one that resists fusion and instead fosters relational identity, historical reckoning, and inclusive cultural dialogue.