Urban Pacific Mirrored in Playa Renaciente: A Miniature Metropolis Reflecting the Vibrancy and Complexities of Pacific Cities

In the heart of Colombia, a small neighbourhood named Playa Renaciente stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of its 200 Afro families. With a population of 950 people, Playa Renaciente is more than just a neighbourhood; it's a microcosm of the urban Pacific, preserving customs, knowledge, spiritual songs, prayers, cuisine, traditional midwives, and medicine that trace back centuries.

Playa Renaciente, once a city neighbourhood, was redefined as rural territory in 2000. However, the community has a rich history that dates back to the Hacienda La Candelaria and the abolition of slavery in 1851. One of the landing stages on the river used to transport enslaved people was located in Playa Renaciente.

In 1946, the community organised themselves in a cooperative, paving the way for official building permits and connection to urban infrastructure. This move was instrumental in preserving their community and maintaining their connection to the water. However, the city administration has not been able to offer suitable land that maintains this connection.

In June 2008, Playa Renaciente appealed to the Ministry of the Interior and Justice in Colombia to achieve joint recognition of land ownership. Their efforts were recognised in 2007 when the Consejo Comunitario Ancestral de Negritudes La Playa Renaciente was recognised by the Ministry of the Interior.

Vice President Francia Márquez has shown support for the community in their resistance. The community's concerns revolve around the potential disruption of their centuries-old community if resettled individually. They have the legal right to be consulted on infrastructure projects, as established in the 1993 law to protect their cultural and social integrity.

The community is currently in resistance against a giant construction project called Plan Jarillón. The project includes the demolition of some houses in Playa Renaciente and the resettlement of its residents. The operators of the project promote it with threat scenarios of potential flooding and its impact on nearby municipalities.

However, the community is concerned about the potential loss of their unique culture and way of life if they are resettled. They fear that the centuries-old community could be disrupted, leading to a significant cultural loss. The territory of Playa Renaciente was renamed to "Renaciente", meaning "reborn", as a reference to the political and ethnic consciousness of the community.

The idea of founding a Consejo Comunitario in Playa Renaciente was ripe in the 1990s, aiming to protect black communities and their territories. Since then, the community has been fighting for their rights, asserting their ethnic-territorial special rights through politicising their history and origin.

Sadly, some families in Playa Renaciente have experienced violence due to their refusal to leave their homes. By 2019, the 8,000 families living on and behind the dike were supposed to be resettled, but around 10,000 people still live on the dam's pastures.

As the world watches, the community of Playa Renaciente continues to stand firm in their fight for cultural preservation and territorial rights. Their resilience serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural diversity and the rights of marginalised communities.