Meghan Markle is set to give a speech about ‘Afro women and power’ during her trip to Columbia with Prince Harry.
The couple rounded off the third day of their royal tour by visiting traditional Afro-Caribbean village, San Basilio de Palenque.
The trip to the village involved a half hour helicopter ride from Cartagena and then a 15 minute drive along a pot holed road lined with soldiers and at one point a tank.
To beat the 30c heat and humidity Meghan dressed in white linen skirt, sleeveless blouse and Panama hat. Harry had a light blue linen shirt and cream trousers and seemed uncomfortable in the heat with sweat stains under his arms.
They were met with a warm welcome as locals clapped, cheered and waved at the couple who were accompanied by their usual security team.
Ahead of their arrival, some locals said they hoped Harry will use the visit to apologise for the British crown’s role in the colonial slave trade.
The Duke of Sussex has previously discussed the ‘unjust’ system that saw ‘enslaved people’ generate wealth for the Crown.
However, he has not apologised for his family’s role in the oppressive system.
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia, on day three of their visit
Meghan dressed in white linen skirt, sleeveless blouse and Panama hat, while Harry wore a blue linen shirt
Harry and Meghan are seen on the streets of San Basilio de Palenque during their visit around Colombia
Meghan and Harry walk through the streets of San Basilio de Palenque in Columbia
Members of a children’s choir wave as they wait for the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan
Harry and Meghan held hands as they walked through the village square where stalls with traditional handicrafts had been set up as they chatted animatedly to onlookers.
The village was set up by freed African slaves almost 300 years ago and has been described as a ‘little corner of Africa’.
The stop was particularly significant for Meghan, as when she visited Nigeria in May she said she was ’43 per cent Nigerian’.
On Sunday the quasi royal tour will end with a trip to the city of Cali where the couple will attend a music festival and meet local youngsters.
Meghan’s speech in Cali will touch on the theme of ‘Afro Women and Power’ and is due to be held at the city’s main theatre.
At the village of San Basilio de Palenque, local rapper Andris Padilla Julio, 32, performed for the Duke and Duchess after they toured the area.
Known by the rap name Afroneto, Padilla is the creator of a style known RFP or Folkloric Palanquero Rap.
He said: ‘I spoke with Harry and his wife and Francia Marquez about our plan to build an arts performance centre here.
‘I gave them a document with what we want to do and now all they need to do is put in the money that we need.
‘They said they would help. Harry complemented me on my RFP flow and my outfit.’
Josefa Hernandez, 38, a contractor for Colombia’s Ministry of Culture who served as master of ceremonies for the visit, said: ‘This visit has been very symbolic for us.
‘The Duke and Duchess broke their protocol to thank us for opening the doors of our community to them.
‘They told us that they understood the importance of San Basilio de Palenque for the history of Colombia and the world.
The pair were surrounded by people as they walked through the streets of San Basilio de Palenque
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia
Crowds formed around Harry and Meghan as they arrived in the area on the third day of their visit
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk through the streets on day three of their visit
‘First they visited San Basilio de Palenque’s cultural centre where Franca Marquez spoke and the national anthem of Columbia and the anthem of Palenque were played.
‘A local wise woman performed a ritual predicting prosperity for the Duke, the Duchess and the Vice President.
‘Then they were given a tour by a local historian explained the story of how the town was created.’
Columbia has the third largest population of African descent after Nigeria and Brazil and the trio host vice president Francia Marquez is the first black woman to hold the position. Speaking in 2014 to Amnesty Ms Marquez said Colombia’s Afro women ‘must keep going’, despite the risks they face.
She believed women have a key role to play because their ‘caring instinct’ drives them to protect not only their children, but also their territory, the environment and their communities.
‘We need to feminize politics and fill humanity with maternal love. ‘War has always been driven by machismo, by the patriarchy and by business between men. I think these men need to stop being so aggressive in life and think about feminizing themselves.’
The Petronio Alvarez music festival Harry and Meghan are due to attend on Sunday is the largest Afro-Colombian celebration in the country and held every August.
Crowds formed around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrived
Meghan and Harry were accompanied by security as they walked through the streets
Harry and Meghan participate in a drum lesson led by Colombian students
In the village today, Harry and Meghan were treated to a show of singing and dancing by locals wearing traditional African themed outfits.
Sadly for the couple, the encroaching sunset meant they only had around twenty minutes in the square before leaving in their convoy.
They did pause briefly to admire a statue of San Basilio’s founder, Benkos Bioho.
After freeing himself from his Spanish rulers, Bioho, originally from modern-day Guinea Bissau, established the town, which has Unesco heritage status, as an ‘enclave of liberation’ for emancipated slaves.
Access was strictly limited and only the Sussex approved media team was able to get anywhere near the couple.
A spokesperson for the vice president’s office said: ‘The event was a special meeting to reconnect with African roots; to learn about the experiences and living conditions of black, Afro-descendant, Raizal and Palanquero peoples in the region and to strengthen human and cultural development programs that promote the guarantee of cultural and collective rights in this territory.’
Speaking at the village Meghan said: ‘We understand very well the importance and meaning of what this town is, it has become very clear to us. We understand what Palenque represents for Colombia and for the world, we thank you for sharing with us everything you showed to us.’
Prince Harry told the crowd: ‘It feels like we have already seen the whole country.’
He added: ‘What we are seeing here is everything that is a community, do not forget the message of the Vice President, they are stronger together, they are stronger united as one.’
Harry and Megan sit together at Escuela de Tambores de Cabildo
Harry and Meghan clapping during a performance at La Boquilla drum school in Cartagena
Earlier, Harry and Meghan had kicked off the third day of their quasi royal tour of Colombia with a visit to a Caribbean drumming school.
The Sussexes, along with Ms Marquez and her husband, participated in a drum lesson led by the students, followed by a performance from some of the locals which brought all the VIPs to their feet.
School director Rafael Ramos was ecstatic to see the duchess’s reaction to the performances and said: ‘I love seeing Meghan’s big, big smile — I can tell she’s excited!’
Following the performance, Ms Marquez gave an impassioned speech about the inherent importance of tradition when it comes to preserving Colombian heritage.
Speaking to the crowd, which included members of her own family who she brought along for the day, she expressed that towns like Cartegena represent the heart of Colombian culture and how the art of drumming in particular symbolizes freedom for Black communities around the world.
She also acknowledged that part of her decision to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Colombia was because she views them as a joint symbol of resistance and two vital voices against injustice.
‘The Duke and Duchess came to Colombia…this is Colombia. This is where the roots of our ancestors and our forefathers are from, ‘ said Vice President Marquez. ‘A community like this cannot be displaced.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved from the capital Bogota to the coastal town of Cartagena with a usual heavy security detail.
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Publish date : 2024-08-17 13:00:00
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