Lifelong Portobelo resident and Congo “Cantalante”/lead singer and ritual specialist Simona Esquina has been singing and dancing in the Portobelo Congo tradition since she was seven years old. Part of a family whose participation in the tradition extends more then five generations, Simona’s father was the renowned King in the Congo tradition, Vicente Esquina. Simona is the great-aunt of co-interviewer Gustavo Esquina.

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Interview Details

Interviewee: Simona Esquina
Interviewer: Renee Alexander Craft
Secondary Interviewer: Gustavo Esquina
Date of Interview: May 7, 2003
Location of Interview: Interviewee’s home in Portobelo, Panama
Interview Transcribed By: Gustavo Esquina
English Translation By: Oronike Odeleye
Audio Link: https://soundcloud.com/digitalportobelo/simona_esquina_2003
Download the Transcript:  English Transcript | Spanish Transcript