Heraldo Eucebio De Hoyos discusses how the group started and how he approached the music school to help supply the group with instruments.
Archives
Barrio Fino Heraldo y Abdiel y Eric History of Comparsa Sound
Eric Blanquicet maps the history of the comparsa sound in Portobelo through its origins in Santiago de Cuba and history in Panama. In doing so, he shares how the group based the sound on comparsa traditions in Colon but shifted it to better represent the uniqueness of Portobelo.
Barrio Fino Heraldo y Abdiel y Eric Outlet for Community Members
Eric Blanquicet and Heraldo Eucebio De Hoyos discuss the ways in which the desire to create something positive in the community — that allows community members additional outlets for their time and talent — is their chief motivation for participating in Comparsa Barrio Fino.
Barrio Fino Heraldo y Abdiel y Eric Relationship to Congo Carnival
Heraldo Eucebio De Hoyos, Abdiel Valdez, and Eric Blanquicet discuss the relationship between Barrio Fino and Congo carnival.
Barrio Fino Heraldo y Abdiel y Eric Favorite Memory
Heraldo Eucebio De Hoyos, Abdiel Valdez, and Eric Blanquicet discuss their favorite Barrio Fino memory or activity. All talk about the magic of their first public performance. In responding, Heraldo gives the spectrum of Portobelo personalities active with the group to illustrate how thoroughly it represents a broad spectrum of Portobelo culture and embodies the spirit of the community.
Ileana Solis Palma Studying Dance of the Devil
In this excerpt, Solís discusses studying the dance of the devil in 1994 under the tutelage of Celedonio Molinar, legionary Major Devil of Portobelo, Panama and receiving permission from the Congo King and Queen to dress and dance as a devil in 1995.
Ileana Solis Palma Childhood in an Impoverished Neighborhood
In this excerpt, Ileana discusses being raised by a hardworking middle-class mother within the economically impoverished neighborhood of Calidonia and the centrality of art to her personal development.
Raul Orlando Jimenez Delgado Portobelo as Birthplace of Devil Character
In this excerpt, Jiménez discuses the ways in which the 20th century notion of the devil character in the Congo tradition of Panama was “born” in Portobelo and discusses the ways in which his mentor in the tradition, Celedonio Molinar, brought back the practice of “Blessing the Devils.”
Celedonio Molinar The Pujido
In this excerpt, Molinar explains the “pujido,” a sound that the devils within the Congo tradition of Panama make that is a part of their embodiment of the character. The literal translation of the word is “grunt,” but the effect is more than that. The sound amplifies internal energy and is done in response to both internal desires and external stimuli.
Raul Orlando Jimenez Delgado Becoming Major Devil
In this excerpt, Jiménez discusses how he began to play the role of the Major Devil character in the Congo tradition of Portobelo, Panama when Carlos Chavarria took a sabbatical from the role to study abroad in Russia.