Venice used to be one of the most important ports in the world, where Europeans, Asians and Africans lived side by side. The 3 most notable racial minorities were Jews, Slavs, and Moors. Accounts and tales provide clues to the true identity of Shakespeare's character Othello. The term "Moor" would actually refer to Africans as well as people form certain areas of the Mediterranean. Venice has maintained cultural and commercial ties with Africa since at least the 9th century. Today, several African artists work in Venice, such as Moulaye Niang, Goncalo & Rodrigo Mabunda, Cyrus Kabiru, and Timi Kakandar.