The Black God Child was born in Feria

The ‘Star to the East’ Melany Márquez, 9, poses for a portrait in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 18, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

The Godparents holds the Black Baby Jesus’ basket during the Christmas procession in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 18, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

Angels and ‘Las Indias’ during the Christmas procession in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 18, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

The folkloric dance group of Quinamayó dances during the Cultural Friday of Quinamayó’s Christmas celebrations in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 18, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

Sarahy Andrea Peña, 17, is one of the godmothers of the Black Baby Jesus, on March 14, 2021. Her dress is a reference to the ‘Quinceañeras’ party, a tradition that takes place in Latin American countries such as Cuba, Colombia or Mexico and celebrates the entry into adult life of women at that age (15).

(From left to right) Luz Nelly Balanta, 58, Mirna Rodríguez, 58, and Luciala Balanta Peña, 57, are some of women who lead the realization of Christmas in Quinamayó. In the photo, they wait their turn to participate in a television recording of the celebration, on March 14, 2021.

A painting of the Holy Family hangs in front of one of the oldest house in Quinamayó, made from wattle and daub, on March 13, 2022.

Óscar Zamora, 35, is a member of ‘Ecos del Tambor’ (Echoes of the drum), from neighboring community of Robles. July 16, 2022.

People dance a juga in front of fireworks in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 18, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

Gustavo Carabalí, 25, in the middle of a crowd during the traditional celebrations in Quinamayó, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on February 8, 2023. Jaír F. Coll por The New York Times

Quinamayó is an Afro-Colombian community located in the south of the department of Valle del Cauca. At the time of the slave trade (16th century-1851), their ancestors were not allowed to preserve any cultural expression. Many traditions had to be adapted as a way of expressing dignity and resistance.

That was the case of Christmas, which is celebrated 45 days after the traditional date of Jesus’ birth, the time it took the Virgin Mary to rest after giving birth, resulting in mid-February, which was also the period of rest for enslaved people.

The festivity has been preserved for almost 200 years and when the dates to commemorate it arrive, they do it around the birth of the Black God Child. For him, the little ones dress up as biblical characters, women sing alabaos and people gather to dance the juga, a musical genre native to the Afro-Colombian people.

Colombia grew up under the colonialist idea of “improving the race,” as if Afro-Colombians were a population to be fixed. And today, racism manifests itself in discriminatory comments in the street or on social networks. The inhabitants of Quinamayó fight against that by taking pride in their roots, as well as manifesting a syncretism that reverses the traditional ways of understanding Catholicism.