WhatsApp interview with Yelitza Valdez by Catherina Wilson
May 2025
My name is Yelitza Valdez and today I am going to tell you a little bit about the meaning of Afrocolombianidad.
What is Afro-Colombian Day and what does it celebrate?
The Afro-Colombian Day is a commemoration day that is celebrated every 21st of May in Colombia. This date commemorates the abolition of slavery signed on 21 May 1851 and honours the legacy, culture and rights of black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquero communities, like mine, as I am originally from San Basilio de Palenque, which is considered the first free town in the whole of the Americas. From my point of view, this day celebrates our identity, our resistance and the struggle for freedom that our ancestors started long ago.
Who celebrates this day and how is it celebrated?
The celebration is led by the black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenque communities, but also by the authorities, social organisations and the general public. In San Basilio de Palenque we celebrate with our traditional music and dances. In addition, we display Palenquero gastronomy, hold parades, tell stories, share ancestral medicinal knowledge and organize meetings to remember our stories; also to teach them to the new generations. Throughout the country there are festivals, art exhibitions, debates and educational activities to make our culture and our contributions to the Colombian society and history more visible.
Why is it important to celebrate this day?
Celebrating the Afro-Colombian Day is important because it acknowledges our stories of resistance, our culture, and our rights as a people. For me, celebrating Afro-Colombian Day helps to combat the discrimination and exclusion that we still face. It also promotes equality, respect for ethnic and cultural diversity. On the other hand, it keeps alive the memory of our ancestors, and strengthens our Palenquera and Palenquero identities.
How should Afro-Colombian Day be celebrated in the future?
In the future, Afro-Colombian Day should be celebrated with greater official recognition and active participation of all Afro-descendant communities, especially the original peoples such as the ones from Palenque. It should also include more spaces for education, the transmission of ancestral knowledge and the promotion of our languages, such as Palenquero. Our culture and territory should be celebrated nation-wide and become world heritage too because it represents freedom, resistance and the cultural richness in Colombia.
In short, as a Palenquera, I feel that this day is an opportunity to proudly show who we are, where we come from, what we have achieved as a community, our history and culture. It deserves to be known and protected as a fundamental part of our national heritage.
