Ludwig van Beethoven was of African descent, and the truth of his ethnic origins was covered up through a mixture of white powder worn on his face when out in public, the use of body doubles for portraits, and “euro-centric” historians, hiding the truth of his genetic heritage. This is the claim of a new website, that not only alleges that Beethoven’s African roots was well-known to the Viennese elite, who allowed the “illusion” of a white Beethoven to persist after his death, but that the proof of Beethoven’s true cultural background is contained within his music.

This radical assertion isn’t new: theories have simmered quietly for decades claiming the composer was descended from North African relatives. Rather than basing this conclusion on genealogical studies however, this claim is often attributed to Beethoven’s familial connections to the Flemish region of northern Europe, which had been invaded and ruled by Spain, a nation with connections to the North African Moor culture. This is often coupled with anecdotal descriptions of Beethoven being nick-named “Spaniard” or “Moor” because of his dark, swarthy complexion, and certain portraits of the composer which appear to show him...