For the respect of the cultural identity of the afro descendant, palenquera and raizal communities
First Circle of the Word in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia
The Global Embassy of Activist for Peace (GEAP), in association with the "Graciela Salgado" Culture House, held the first Circle of the Word in San Basilio de Palenque, recognized by UNESCO as Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, recognition that was given in 2005.
This event, carried out on Friday, May 26, 2017, was attended by more than 60 municipal councilors from the Afro-descendant, raizal and palenqueras communities throughout Colombia.
Music as a sign of cultural identity
After a cultural show intoning the hymn of San Basilio de Palenque, the installation of the event was given with the presence of the historian palanquero, magister Alfonso Cassiani, and the legal representative of Organización de Base de Comunidades Negras Club Social Criollos Ku Suto Adolfo Reyes.
Dr. Camilo Montoya Reyes, chief of the Project Counsel of the GEAP, who was also present in the event, in his presentation he expressed: “The purpose of this encounter Circles of the Word, it is to make known in the Congress (Republic of Colombia) the cultural genocide and to identify the attack of the different ethnic groups”.
(Listen cover by Radio Caracol)
The cultural identity for the preservation of the lives of the afro-Colombian communities
On the other hand, the palanquero historian and dean of the Institucion Etnoeducativa e Inclusiva “Antonio Santos”, Alfonso Cassiani, emphasized that Colombia is one of the Hispanic speaking countries with most afro-descendent presence, recognizing the cultural identity as part of their life.
Likewise, working groups were formed with the representatives of Afro-Colombian communities, where proposals and support were heard for it to take place in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia; the GEAP reunited is meeting with 60 afro-descendant leaders to discuss the criminalization of genocide.
This first space where the afro-descendants, raizal and palenquera communities were told about the concern to preserve their cultural identity, as conclusion on behalf of the communities it was said:
It is necessary to recognize the ethnocide by a measure to safeguard the black, palenquera community... The categorization creates guarantees to the violation of our traditions and culture in general.
It has been demonstrated that Colombia's afro-descendant, raizal and palenquera communities require legal protection of their culture, so that they can achieve peace.
