Biography: Lifelong Portobelo resident, 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 co-interviewer Gustavo Esquina.
Excerpt Description: In this excerpt, Esquina discusses the changes she has seen in the Congo tradition over the course of her lifetime. Specifically, she talks about changes that she has witnessed in ways in which the devil character is played.
Entire Interview: Listen to the full interview and read the transcript.
Interviewer: Renee Alexander Craft
Secondary Interviewer: Gustavo Esquina
Date of Interview: 7-May-03
Interview Location: Interviewee's home in Portobelo, Panama
Interview Transcribed By: Gustavo Esquina
English Translation By: Oronike Odeleye
Ethnoracial Identity Discussed: Afro-Colonial, Afrodescendiente
Cultural Identity: "Revellín" or Primary singer in the Congo tradition, Congo
Location Mentioned: Portobelo, Panama
Congo Spaces:
Congo Characters: Devils and Devil Tradition, Major Devil
Congo Tradition Mentioned: Continuity and change, Devil embodiment
Cultural Organization: Congos
Themes Mentioned: Congo tradition, Cultural change, Devil character
Cultural Festivals: Carnival
People Mentioned: N/A
Time Period Mentioned: 1932-1946, 1947-1963, 1964-1979, 1980-1988, 1989-2003, 2004-present
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Timestamp: 00:17:35.2-00:21:23.8
Photo by: Painting of Major Devil and Angels by Gustavo Esquina. Photo by Renee Alexander Craft.