Palenquera, San Basilio de Palenque A woman dressed as a traditional palenquera poses in front of a mural in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia. The brightly colored dress and headwrap are associated with Afro-Colombian cultural traditions preserved in the community. (more) San Basilio de Palenque town, Colombia Written by Katie Angell Katie Angell is Associate Editor at Encyclopedia Britannica, covering topics related to Latin America. She holds an MA from Vanderbilt University and is pursuing a PhD in Political Science. Katie Angell Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 9, 2026 •History San Basilio de Palenque, town in northern Colombia, situated in the foothills of the Montes de María in Bolívar department, southeast of Cartagena. The community was founded in the late 16th or early 17th century by Africans who escaped slavery and formed a settlement that resisted Spanish colonial authority. In 1691 the Spanish Crown granted freedom to its inhabitants, making it one of the first free African towns in the Americas. Today the small community...

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