Route to Palenque America's first free village

Palenque de San Basilio was one of those fortified communities called "palenques", which were founded by runaway slaves as a refuge in the seventeenth century. Of the many palenques that existed in earlier times, only that of San Basilio has survived until today, becoming a unique cultural space. Its cultural space encompasses social, medical and religious practices, as well as musical and oral traditions, many of which have African roots. Musical expressions such as the “sitting Bullernege”, the “Son palenquero” or the “Son de negro” accompany collective celebrations such as baptisms, weddings and religious parties, as well as leisure activities. An essential element is the Palenquera language, the only Creole language in the Americas that combines a Spanish lexical base with the grammatical characteristics of Bantu languages. This language constitutes a primary factor that reinforces social cohesion among community members.