Caminos de un campesino. Entre Palenque y La Bonga. Entrevista con Primitivo Pérez Herazo

A Tribute to Primitivo Pérez Erazo: A Voice of Peace and Resilience in San Basilio de Palenque

Key Concepts:

• San Basilio de Palenque: An ancestral population in northern Colombia, known for its unique culture and language.
• La Bonga: A village within San Basilio de Palenque, a significant place for Primitivo Pérez Erazo and his ancestors.
• Displacement: Forced removal of the Bonga community due to armed conflict in the 2000s.
• Community Council: The highest authority in San Basilio de Palenque, responsible for territorial governance.
• Palenquero Language: A creole language spoken in San Basilio de Palenque, blending Spanish with African languages.
• Peasant Participation Training: Training received by Primitivo Pérez Erazo that equipped him with community management skills.
• Macán Camaná Community Council: The specific name of the Community Council of San Basilio de Palenque.
• Territorial Titling: The process of legally recognizing and securing collective land rights for the community.

Early Life and Connection to La Bonga:

• Primitivo Pérez Erazo was born in San Basilio de Palenque on April 3, 1953.
• His connection to La Bonga stems from his great-grandfather, Martín Casiani, who purchased land there. This land was inherited by Primitivo's grandmother.
• Primitivo initially worked as a teacher in San Basilio de Palenque.
• He struggled with marijuana addiction and sought help from the evangelical church.
• Driven by what he believed were divine voices, he left teaching and moved to La Bonga to overcome his addiction and dedicate himself to farming.

Life in La Bonga and Overcoming Addiction:

• Moving to La Bonga helped Primitivo overcome his marijuana addiction.
• He became a farmer, starting with seven cows and eventually growing his herd to seventeen.
• La Bonga became a place of personal transformation and connection to the land.

Displacement and Resistance:

• In the 2000s, the armed conflict forced the displacement of the Bonga community.
• Primitivo suspects the government was involved in the displacement to facilitate land acquisition.
• While many neighbors in San Juan de Mampuján de María la Baja sold their land, Primitivo and his community resisted.

Leadership in the Community Council:

• Primitivo became the first legal representative of the Macán Camaná Community Council of San Basilio de Palenque in 2002.
• His prior training in peasant participation with the Sena (using the Capaca methodology) equipped him with community management skills.
• He was chosen to speak for the community due to his intellectual capacity and experience.
• He supported Dionisio Miranda Tejedores in the process of titling the territory.
• He faced opposition from some Palenqueros who were hesitant about collective territorial titling.
• He denounced a lawyer who was spreading misinformation about territorial titling in a public meeting.

Education and the Palenquero Language:

• Primitivo considers himself an innate educator, always supported and trusted by his peers.
• He emphasizes the importance of protecting the Palenquero language.
• The Palenquero language was once ridiculed by neighboring towns, leading to its decline.
• Today, the language has gained recognition and is being used in videos and other media, even winning awards.
• He defends both the traditional Palenquero language he grew up with and the updated version being taught in schools.
• Primitivo shares a brief description in Palenquero, emphasizing the Palenqueros' ownership of their town, language, and customs inherited from their ancestors.
• Quote (translated): "We the Palenqueros are the owners of our town, of our language and of our customs because that is what our ancestors left us."

Future Aspirations:

• Primitivo hopes for San Basilio de Palenque to become a municipality, believing it will open doors internationally.
• He envisions improvements for La Bonga, including road repairs and access to solar power.
• He expresses a desire to return to La Bonga and spend his final years there.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Primitivo Pérez Erazo's life story is a testament to resilience, leadership, and cultural preservation in the face of adversity. From overcoming personal struggles to leading his community through displacement and advocating for their rights, Primitivo has dedicated his life to San Basilio de Palenque and La Bonga. His commitment to the Palenquero language and his vision for a brighter future highlight the importance of memory, ancestral values, and community empowerment in building a peaceful and prosperous territory.