Ileana Solis Palma One-Person Performance to Celebrate Major Devil Tradition

Interviewee: Ileana Solís Palma
Biography: University of Panama Professor, Ileana Solís Palma has spent a lifetime dedicated to using theater as tool for empowerment, voice, preservation, and activism. For decades, she worked to create collaborative community theater projects throughout the country. In 1994, she witnessed Celedonio Molinar dance as Major Devil during carnival in Portobelo and became enchanted. With the help of friend, Portobelo resident, and photographer Sandra Eleta, she asked if she might learn the dance. Molinar agreed to train her. She remains one of a select few women to ever have performed the devil role in Portobelo.
Excerpt Description: In this excerpt, Solís discusses the one-person performance that she created through her theater company to celebrate Celedonio and the Major Devil tradition of Portobelo, Panama.
Entire Interview: Listen to the full interview and read the transcript.
Interviewer: Renee Alexander Craft
Secondary Interviewer: Oronike Odeleye
Date of Interview: Jul-13
Interview Location: Interviewee's home in Panama City, Panama
Interview Transcribed By: Gustavo Esquina
English Translation By: Oronike Odeleye
Ethnoracial Identity Discussed: Afro-Colonial, Afrodescendiente
Cultural Identity: N/A
Location Mentioned: Portobelo, Panama
Congo Spaces:
Congo Characters: Devils and Devil Tradition, Major Devil
Congo Tradition Mentioned: Congo culture, Congo game, Devil embodiment
Cultural Organization: Black Sheep theater company
Themes Mentioned: Congo tradition, Cultural performance, Cultural preservation
Cultural Festivals: N/A
People Mentioned: Celedonio Molinar
Time Period Mentioned: 1989-2003
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Timestamp: 00:18:25.4-00:21:43.0

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