The Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, known as the Dukes of Sussex, made this Saturday a visit to San Basilio de Palenque, located in the Colombian Caribbean region and recognized as the first free town in America. There, they held dialogues with community leaders about cultural identity, structural racism, and efforts towards historical reparations for slavery.
In their itinerary, accompanied by the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez, the Dukes made their first stop in Cartagena de Indias at the Escuela Taller Tambores de Cabildo de La Boquilla. During their visit, they interacted with children and young people and experienced playing ancestral drums, focusing on the rich African heritage of Colombia.
“The sea reminds us of our African heritage. (…) This place welcomes children and girls offering them protection. With the drums we seek to transform their lives (…) we invite you to collaborate in the protection of these young people and our territory, which is in danger”, expressed Rafael Ramos, director of the school, to the Dukes upon their arrival.
The Vice President Francia Márquez guides the Dukes of Sussex
The Vice President served as their guide throughout this tour, emphasizing that they were in an “ancestral territory” that exists “since we were kidnapped in Africa”, and promoted a “sustainable and ecological tourism that does not commercialize women”, in one of the most notable tourist destinations in the country.
From Cartagena, the Dukes and the Vice President headed to San Basilio de Palenque, designated a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to safeguard the musical, cultural, and linguistic traditions with African roots of the town, including their language, palenquero.
During a brief stay of just one hour, the cultural expressions allowed Harry and Meghan to interact with Afro-descendant communities. They also visited the cultural house and Benkos Biohó square, named after the leader who led the rebellion of the cimarron slaves in the 17th century and was proclaimed king of San Basilio, being subsequently executed and dismembered in 1621.
Highlighting Afro-descendant culture
“I wanted our guests to appreciate what we are as a black people, our spirituality and culture. The resilience of the women and men of Palenque. This ancestral legacy allows us to move forward, fighting for the recovery of our people and country”, stated the Vice President in the square.
For her part, Meghan mentioned the importance of the town and what it represents for Colombia, showing gratitude for the experience. And Prince Harry added: “what we observe here is the essence of a community; remember the Vice President’s message, they are stronger united.”
In their first visit to Colombia, the Dukes of Sussex since Thursday have visited various schools in Bogotá, focusing on childhood and technologies to promote education and combat cyberbullying, and will conclude their visit in the city of Cali tomorrow.
Source: EFE
credits of the images of this post: n.com.do
