Cartagena de Indias celebrates its 492 anniversary this year. A good time to look closer at the layers that built this city. Beyond the balconies and plazas, Cartagena holds stories that shaped not just Colombia, but all of the Americas. Its colonial architecture and coastal charm are only part of a much bigger picture.
For centuries, this port was central to trade, not just in goods, but in people. Cartagena was a key entry point for Africans brought to the continent under forced conditions. Many were separated from their homelands forever. But in the middle of it all, culture became a lifeline. Music, stories, and shared knowledge helped people hold on to who they were, even while creating something entirely new.
A City Built on Many Layers
The stone walls of Cartagena that now welcome visitors were once a fortress of empire. Funded largely by gold extracted from Colombia’s interior, the walled city was designed to protect Spain’s interests in the Caribbean. Cartagena played a key role in trade routes and that included the trafficking of enslaved Africans.
But this is also where memory became music. When daily work stopped, even briefly, people would sing, play, and reconnect with distant lands through sound. These traditions carried emotion, history, and identity. They were ways to return home, even knowing home was far away.
What’s remarkable is how much of that spirit remains. From the beat of a drum in a local square to the way spices are blended in market kitchens, you’ll find echoes of these past generations throughout Cartagena today.
The same sea that brought ships centuries ago now surrounds a city known for its musical creativity and culinary richness. Thanks to Afro-Colombian communities whose influence continues to shape everyday life.
Culture That Was Born in Resistance
Afro-Colombian cultural expressions didn’t come from leisure or privilege. They were created quietly, in kitchens, courtyards, and gathering places. In those moments, people passed down oral stories, created instruments with local materials, and developed styles of music and dance like bullerengue, cumbia, and mapalé shaped by deep African and Indigenous roots.
They were ways to preserve memory, build community, and stay strong, often using multiple languages, sounds, and meanings. Over time, people who had come from different regions of Africa developed a shared language, now known as Palenquero, and with it, a shared sense of purpose.
Food, too, became a language of its own. Recipes passed through generations told stories without words. Each dish spoke of heritage, adaptation, and connection.
San Basilio de Palenque, The First Free Town in the Americas
About an hour from Cartagena, San Basilio de Palenque offers a powerful example of how culture and resilience go hand in hand. Founded by people who escaped slavery in the 17th century, Palenque became the first free afro town in the Americas and remains an essential part of Afro-Colombian identity today, also known as a little part of Africa in Colombia.
It’s a place where traditions grew. Music, medicine, language, and food were preserved through community effort. The Palenquero language, which blends Spanish and African roots, continues to be spoken. Musical practices like the lumbalú funeral songs and instruments like the tambor alegre remain active parts of local life. And the food, carefully prepared with deep knowledge and respect, is one of the most memorable parts of any visit.
Cartagena and Palenque Today
Both places offer insight into Afro-Colombian heritage, from two very different but connected perspectives. Cartagena, once a colonial stronghold, is now a mix of old and new, where traditions meet modern energy. Palenque, by contrast, remains deeply rooted in its historical role as a stronghold of freedom and cultural preservation.
In the neighborhoods of Cartagena like in the Bazurto Market, newer styles like champeta have emerged from Afro-descendant communities. Champeta has long been a soundtrack of celebration, resistance, and identity. It blends African, Caribbean, and local influences, and its rise speaks to the power of culture to continue evolving.
This August through our Cartagena Weekend Music Tour, you’ll explore the city’s historic walls and the places where living culture thrives.
Visit the Bazurto Market, where food tells stories older than the recipes. Spend time in San Basilio de Palenque, where music and language are part of everyday life. Talk with musicians, cooks, and knowledge keepers who carry these traditions forward.
Cartagena’s past wasn’t easy, but what has grown from it is extraordinary. Its music, flavors, and stories reflect a long journey, and knowing that journey makes every experience more meaningful.
If this story sparked your curiosity, there’s even more to discover. Our Cartagena Weekend Music Tour is just the beginning. You’re also invited to join us for the Petronio Álvarez Festival Tour, a powerful celebration of Afro-Colombian music, identity, and tradition in Cali.
And here’s something special:
If you join both experiences, you’ll receive an exclusive offer.
We’re happy to answer any questions and help you plan a meaningful cultural journey.
Feel free to reach out and keep exploring the depth and beauty of Afro-Colombian heritage with us.
