The Maroon Kingdom of Palenque: Freedom in Colombia

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Sep 13, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While most histories focus on the Caribbean, a unique free Black community thrived in the mountains of colonial Colombia. This episode explores the origins of San Basilio de Palenque, founded by Benkos Biohó, an escaped slave from Sierra Leone who built a fortress and established a sovereign state. We examine how the Palenqueros preserved their African heritage through language, music, and governance, resisting both Spanish conquest and internal subjugation. The narrative covers the 1713 treaty that recognized their freedom, the role of cimarrones in local warfare, and the enduring cultural…