Freedom Braids: My Trip To Palenque, Colombia
What started out as a mission to learn more about San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in the Americas, turned into my complete adoration of the community and the people I met.
Visiting San Basilio de Palenque (or what many call Palenque de Benkos) was the heart and soul of my trip. I danced, sang, ate delicious food, made new friends, was blessed by an elder, and relished in the Black pride and brilliance of the town.
I first learned about Palenque while I was writing When Mama Braids My Hair, about 7 years ago. This vibrant community, tucked away in a remote area, is over an hour from Cartagena. It is the first free town in the Americas and was founded by Benkos Biohó and a group of enslaved people who liberated themselves in the early 1600s.
Today a statue of Benkos Biohó stands tall in Palenque's main square. The image of him breaking free from his chains and reaching out for his motherland, symbolizes the unwavering strength and determination that has fueled Palenque for centuries.
Visiting San Basilio de Palenque (or what many call Palenque de Benkos) was the heart and soul of my trip. I danced, sang, ate delicious food, made new friends, was blessed by an elder, and relished in the Black pride and brilliance of the town.
I first learned about Palenque while I was writing When Mama Braids My Hair, about 7 years ago. This vibrant community, tucked away in a remote area, is over an hour from Cartagena. It is the first free town in the Americas and was founded by Benkos Biohó and a group of enslaved people who liberated themselves in the early 1600s.
Today a statue of Benkos Biohó stands tall in Palenque's main square. The image of him breaking free from his chains and reaching out for his motherland, symbolizes the unwavering strength and determination that has fueled Palenque for centuries.
San Basilio de Palenque (Palenque de benkos)
The Palenqueras are the heartbeat of the community. Whether in San Basilio de Palenque or Cartagena, these women dressed in colorful traditional garb, are often seen selling fruit or candy, and posing for pictures. But there’s more to these iconic women than meets the eye. They are descendants of the enslaved Africans who braided routes to freedom in their hair and communicated this knowledge in secret. These braided patterns that indicated rivers, paths, and roads helped many enslaved people escape.
Cartagena, Colombia (Getsemani Neighborhood)
Book Alert!
I’ve been so inspired by this history, that I’ve written another book. Lantana Publishing will release Freedom Braids on September 10, 2024!
I’ve been so inspired by this history, that I’ve written another book. Lantana Publishing will release Freedom Braids on September 10, 2024!
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