The first Africans to arrive with the Spaniards were hispanized having lived in Spain as artisans, servants and slaves. They were called negros ladinos, meaning eloquent or versatile. In the early days of Portobelo, they served similar roles as they had in Spain. Soon after however, captured Africans directly imported for hard labor, referred to as negros bozales, meaning wild or untamed began arriving in Panama for the building of roads and houses, clearing the jungle, pearl diving, or working in the mines and on plantations. The discovery of gold and silver in South America increased the need for slave labor and Portobelo became the seat of embarkation for more captured Africans. These Africans were later marched overland to Panama City for passage to South America. The cargo of gold and silver from South America was then shipped to Panama City where it was transported to waiting ships in Portobelo which then sailed to Spain.

From the moment Africans were captured in their native lands the will to escape dominated their daily lives. As soon as they arrived in Panama they began escaping in large numbers heading directly to the jungle and the mountains where the Spaniards encountered great difficulties trying to recapture them. Because of the similarity of climatic conditions and vegetation between West Africa and Panama, they had an advantage over their enslavers who pursued them. Legends and historical accounts record the names of several well known kings, among them Felipillo, a ladino; Bayano, an African prince in his own land; Domingo Congo; Antón Mandinga; Luis de Mozambique, and Juan de Dioso. Their descendants are known today as Congos.

Congo performance today is a dramatized living tradition that brings to life the history and culture of the group beginning each year on the 20th of January with the raising of the Congo flag, and ending on Ash Wednesday with the "baptism of the devils." The tradition consists of six essential elements including a complex social structure, jargon, material culture, music, dance, drama, and culinary customs. These traditions are manifested primarily during the carnival period in Panama and on special occasions.

In the 1970s photographer Sandra Eleta and a group of artists and friends founded Taller Portobelo. One of the first undertakings of the Taller was the development of projects leading to the preservation of Congo traditions. In recent years Taller Portobelo has expanded its operations to include creating new traditions by developing a painting workshop which I direct. While the primary objective continues to be the preservation of Congo traditions, the painting workshop also serves as a vehicle to produce much needed capital for the residents of the village.

In order to provide my students with an opportunity to participate in the growth and development of Congo culture, I established the Spelman College Summer Art Colony. In order to continue growing, I purchased 13 acres of land on the Bay of Portobelo were I am building Taller Arturo Lindsay, a permanent artist colony where artists and students from the United States and Panama can live and work along with the artists of Taller Portobelo.

Preserving Old While Creating New Traditions on the Congo Coast of Panama is a slide-video-lecture that will present the traditions of the Congos, the Spelman College Summer Art Colony and the development of Taller Arturo Lindsay.