Gonzo directed this mini-documentary right after a TV campaign he worked on with BlackVan Films in Panama.
In the colonial era, rebellious African slaves who refused to surrender helped to preserve the Congo culture in Portobelo, an impoverished region set by the Caribbean coast of Panama.
The Catholic faith, obscurantism, and the slavery past merged into the Dance of the Congos. A dance as a remembrance of the suffering of the ancestors and honors the sacrifices they made in pursuit of their freedom.
Today, the Dance of the Congos is the pride of the local black communities, and also a source of income throughout their carnival. I want this short documentary to spread this beautiful tradition, born through terrible circumstances, but that it represents the indomitable spirit of these communities and the bond with their ancestor’s rituals.
You can enjoy this documentary at BlackVan Films or Nowness.