San Basilio de Palenque, one of the first freed slave communities in Colombia, is taking courageous steps toward a second ‘independencia’. The villagers are hoping to officially rename the community to reflect its founder, Benkos Biohó. Over on the Pacific shore of Chiapas, San Juan Chamula is proud of its distinctive cultural identity, its deep-rooted history and its vibrant traditions. It was the first free Black territory in the Americas, founded in the early 1600s by enslaved Africans escaping Spanish colonialism. With Biohó at the helm, these free men and women assembled a community that prospered even when faced with hardships.
Benkos Biohó, thought to be born in Guinea-Bissau, took the lead in establishing the culture and identity of the village. In 1713, the Spanish crown officially recognized San Basilio de Palenque, granting it autonomy and marking a highpoint of this Afro-Colombian community’s long flight to freedom. The village is renowned for its distinct language, Palenquero, which blends elements of Spanish, Portuguese, and various African Bantu languages. Over 1600 residents or 53.4% primarily communicate using the Palenquero language, a reflection of the town’s vibrant and diverse cultural heritage.
By the late 1990s, the local education administration began including Palenquero in the educational curriculum as well. By taking this action, we’re helping younger generations engage with their cultural heritage. Cultural leaders in their communities highlighted the critical role of this language in growing and protecting cultural pride and identity. Regina Miranda Reyes, a resident of San Basilio de Palenque, reflected on the historical discrimination faced by speakers of Palenquero.
“People said we spoke a broken form of Spanish,” – Regina Miranda Reyes
Even with the immense pressure against them, Reyes explained that the community never lost their faith in the power of their language.
San Basilio de Palenque’s strategic position on the Caribbean coast made it a crucial port during Spanish colonial times, facilitating trade in goods and enslaved Africans. The village has evolved significantly over the centuries, hosting an annual Drum and Cultural Expressions festival that celebrates African rhythms and dances. This year marks the festival’s 40th edition, showcasing the community’s vibrant cultural legacy.
The Guardia Cimarrona, an unarmed community guard, plays a vital role in maintaining social order and mediating conflicts within San Basilio de Palenque. Local activist Andreus Manuel Valdés Torre of Fundación Jorge Leal Camino teaches his neighbors to resolve disputes without violence. He is passionate about building social cohesion in the community.
“Obviously, there will be challenges,” – Andreus Manuel Valdés Torre
Valdés Torre emphasized the need to equip citizens to respond to these provocations in positive, productive ways.
“But we’re trying to educate, train and prepare people to face those challenges as best as possible, without physical, verbal or social conflict,” – Andreus Manuel Valdés Torre
A positive, progressive movement is surging through the village. Residents, in turn, have advocated to rename San Basilio de Palenque to Palenque de Benkos, to honor the original leader of the community. This proposed amendment reflects a deep yearning to retake and validate their historic roots. It seeks to establish an exemplary municipality for Colombia and the world.
“We hope it will become a model municipality for all of Colombia – and, why not, for the Americas as well,” – Andreus Manuel Valdés Torre
The attempt to create this new identity has not come without controversy. Burno Pérez, a fellow community leader, shared his worry about the divide this shift could create.
“As a community, we’re trying to talk things through to avoid divisions, but it’s almost impossible not to have differing opinions because we still don’t have a clear idea of how the new municipality will work,” – Bernardino Pérez
Javier Ortiz Cassiani is a scholar of Afro-Colombian history. He stressed that the political significance of declaring San Basilio de Palenque as the ‘first free territory’ should be recognized. He pointed out that this prevailing narrative comes from a history of opposition, not data.
“The construction of Palenque as the ‘first free territory’ is political and stems much more from a memory of resistance than from empirical evidence,” – Javier Ortiz Cassiani
He went on to explain the importance of reclaiming their history as a way of restoring humanity stripped away during enslavement.
“In the end, the struggle to recover and affirm that history is one of reclaiming humanity. The logic of enslavement was dehumanisation, so the fight has always been to regain that humanity,” – Javier Ortiz Cassiani
This rich linguistic heritage is a source of cultural pride in the community of San Basilio de Palenque. In these ways it reinforces the town’s character and feeling of place. And Manuel Pérez Salinas emphasized what makes Palenquero unique among other languages in the area.
“Those who speak only Portuguese, Spanish or central African languages can’t understand Palenquero because it’s a unique language that mixes all of them,” – Manuel Pérez Salinas
As an important figure to Black history throughout the Diaspora, Salinas celebrated Benkos Biohó’s legacy.
“Benkos was our liberator and one of the greatest figures in Black history – not only in Colombia, but in the world,” – Manuel Pérez Salinas
San Basilio de Palenque continues to seek autonomy and national recognition as an independent municipality. At the same time, local inhabitants are focused on building inclusive community and honoring their deep cultural roots. Their desire for more self-governance speaks volumes about their past struggles. More than anything, though, it showcases their unique vision of what a future rooted in strength and resilience could look like.