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Palenque de San Basilio—The Maroon community in Colombia:

•A prominent example of a Maroon community is San Basilio de Palenque, in Columbia, South America, the first free African town in the Americas.

•In Colombia, the term “Maroon” (Spanish: cimarrón) refers to descendants of enslaved Africans who formed independent communities by escaping from slave plantations and other forms of forced slave labor. These communities, often called palenques, represent a significant form of resistance to slavery, oppression and colonialism in the Americas.

•The Palenque Maroon Community founded by Benkos Biohó, a former African king who escaped enslavement, is a prime example of maroon resistance and the establishment of a free African town in the Americas, the first free Africa town in the Americas.

•The Palenque was established by a group of escaped enslaved Africans who organized a community and defended it from the Spanish authorities for decades.

•The Palenque’s enduring presence and unique cultural practices, including African traditional medicine, music, and dance, are a testament to the resilience and cultural richness of The Maroons.

•Palenque de San Basilio is not just a community; it’s a symbol of freedom, resistance, and cultural identity.

•The Palenque’s story serves as a reminder of the struggle for freedom and the resilience of those who resisted slavery and colonialism and established their own independent free African communities.

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Good information.