Eider Calimeño is one of 33 men who act as Matachín: those who commit to participating in the Manacillos in Juntas, Buenaventura, Colombia. This responsibility is inherited from close male relatives and honors deceased or displaced ancestors.
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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