Diablos y Congos

Festival
Luisa Fernanda Parrado Cacho

15/09/2020
Type of holiday
It take place in Portobelo, province of Colón

This festival is celebrated in Portobelo's Community.

It is one of the most important expressions of 'cimarrona' culture in
Panamá.
It takes place every two years, during the second Saturday after
the ash and three times a year, the Caribbean rhythm is heard,
at the Feast of the Black Christ, on Ash Wednesday and during
the biennial.
What people do to
celebrate
The people represent the struggle between evil and good.
In they which the 'congos' characterize the former slaves of black
ethnicity who managed to escape from their oppressors, while
the 'devils' are instead the embodiment of the slave masters.
A special type of
clothing
The locals dressing 'polleras' astonishing stravagant
dresses colorfull and the sorrowful masks of the devils
with red and black suits .
A type of music
The Caribbean music and traditional
music are the rhythms that dance in
this festival.
A traditional dance
“El Congo” is danced on the coast of Colón and represents
the cruelty suffered by the black population during the
colonial period, when slavery was allowed. It is an
expressive dance.
A special event
One of the most beautiful oportunities that shows this
festival is the power to demonstrate historical 'bastiones'
to the population and get to see the walls and stones of
that fortress become colorful and watching the dances.