Guerilla, paramilitary, and drug cartel groups contest this region of the Yurumanguí River for control of illicit activities like coca cultivation and mining. Their clashes lead to the displacement of hundreds from the area. This photo was taken in Juntas, Buenaventura, Colombia.
Juntas is an Afro-descendant community deep in the Colombian Pacific rainforest, accessible only by a ten-hour boat journey up the Yurumanguí River. Settled by descendants of enslaved Africans brought to the region in the 1700s, the community faces threats from illegal mining, logging, and armed conflict. Fiesta de los Manacillos is a traditional ritual enacted by the community during Holy Week activities that blends Catholicism with African spiritual traditions. More than just a celebration, the festival is a homecoming for a diaspora, representing a profound affirmation of cultural resilience.
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