United in a single party under the rhythm of marimba and the taste of blackberry wine, this community of Valle del Guamuez celebrated the strengthening of its ethnic-cultural traditions.

The Victims Territorial Unit Putumayo, with the support of the aid worker Mercy Corps, advanced to the extent of satisfaction of the subject of Collective Repair Villa Arboleda, during the celebration of the National Day of Afro-Colombian, through the promotion of memory exercises historical, with the purpose of reaffirming the cultural identity and the life plan of Afro community.

This activity sought to strengthen the practices and ancestral customs of Afro-Colombian culture of the Community Council of Villa Arboleda, located on the Guamuez River.

It was a party in which the inhabitants of Bajo Putumayo Village showed their artistic skills through music, traditional dances and messages from the older singers of community.

Among the empirical artists, Salomón Esterilla, a young man restless for the music and interpreter of marimba, said that "this is a very special day for people of African descent. We invite Putumayo, Valle del Guamuez and all of Colombia to enjoy this day ".

Another act was the song of the anthem of freedom interpreted by Jaime Ibarra, secretary of the Community Council, who in one of the stanzas said: "And the slave was freed until he became famous. Against the whites he fought with all his maroons, and the Spaniards conquered freedom gave us". The secretary praised the accompaniment of the Victims Unit in the process of strengthening to restore the rights and customs of the Afro-Colombian people in this community.

The colorful touch was put by the children and youth of the dance group, who, with skill, presented various choreographies that managed to capture the attention of those present. The "community pot" was also offered, with one of its traditional dishes such as cachama or fried meat with simple rice.

In the same way, a conversation was held in which the residents were told that the restoration of a mural that has great sociocultural value for the community will be done by the Mercy Corps organization, a strategic ally of Unit.

The event culminated with the delivery of football sports elements by the Government of Putumayo, consisting of shirt, shorts, socks, tennis and balls.

(FIN/AYP/LMY)