Capstone: Monique Robinson

The Palenque Corner: Weaving Afro-Columbian Heritage in La Matuna, Cartagena, Columbia

This project explores the integration of Afro-Columbian heritage into La Matuna, Cartagena, Colombia, focusing on reclaiming stories invisibilized by colonial narratives. Despite Cartagena's UNESCO World Heritage designation, which romanticizes its colonial prosperity, it overlooks the significant contributions and struggles of Afro-Columbians. Through examining the historic port's role in the transatlantic slave trade and the establishment of free communities like Palenque through acts of resistance and spatial rebellion, my project highlights the enduring legacy of the marginalization of Afro-Columbian people. It also challenges the city's exploitation of Afro-Columbian culture as a tourist commodity while neglecting their economic and social well-being. My design intervention proposed aims to recenter Afro-Columbian heritage by revitalizing the La Matuna Business District, a neighborhood marked by its network of informal vendors who were displaced to sell there due to elitist ideals trumping their needs for the historic center. By repurposing derelict buildings and creating a heritage corridor, my project will provide spaces for exhibition, commerce, and communal activities rooted in Afro-Columbian culture. Through the intervention, my project underscores the need for basic infrastructure and respect for Afro-Columbian contributions to the city.