Thousands of Africans were brought to Panama’s Caribbean Coast where they were sold as slaves and sent to work in other parts of Central America. Some escaped, however, and their descendants now make up a self-described “Afro colonizer” population in the area. Two weeks after Carnival, communities in and around Portobelo hold the Diablos y Congos (Devils and Slaves) festival which is an exaggerated re-enactment of how their African ancestors used clothing and language to communicate and an over-the-top parody of Spanish colonizers.

A crew of angels tries to stop, punish, and banish a devil (representing Spanish colonizers) during the festival in Portobelo, Panama.
Inside the Diablos y Congos festival in Panama
Some men and boys dress as congos (slaves) by wearing old clothes worn inside out and adorned with found objects like dolls in imitation of the way Africans modified the clothes they were allowed to wear in order to make them their own. They also speak “congo” by saying the opposite of what they really mean, a re-enactment of how African ancestors managed to communicate even under the watchful eye of slave traders.

Extravagant costumes made from rags and found objects are worn by men and boys representing congos (slaves) during the Diablos y Congos festival in Portobelo, Panama.

The annual Diablos y Congos festival on the Caribbean Coast of Panama includes the crowning of a Congo King and Queen.
Female congos wear long, bright, pleated skirts, flouncy blouses that fall off the shoulder, and multiple necklaces in a costume that is a humble reflection of the pollera, the national dress of Panama.

The outfit worn by women taking part in the Diablos y Congos festival is a simpler version of the pollera which is the national dress of Panama.

Though most of the Diablos y Congos action takes place spontaneously in the crowded streets there are some scheduled performances on a stage in the center of town.

Performers take the stage as part of festival celebrations.

More dance troupes.
Other men and boys dress up as diablos (devils) to represent the Spanish colonizers who ruled the region during slave trading times, donning intricate costumes and wearing grotesque masks many of which are made in nearby Puerto Lindo.

A group of diablos (devils) representing the Spanish colonizers on the streets of Portobelo, Panama during the annual Diablos y Congos festival.

Two kids dressed as twin devils pose with a young fan.
The devils whip the congos and even innocent bystanders and some are more vigorous about it than others. Meanwhile, a pitifully small crew of men dressed as angels try to capture, punish, and banish the whip-wielding devils/Spaniards.

During the Diablos y Congos festival, men representing the diablos (devils) play the role of the Spanish colonizers and use whips to try to punish the congos (slaves) and to fend off white-costumed angels who try to capture as many devils as they can.

The Diablos y Congos festival is a passionate, crowded, loud, and complicated re-enactment of a time of slavery and colonization on Panama’s Caribbean Coast.
It’s a chaotic, passionate, sometimes alarming spectacle involving hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators. Here’s more of the madness.

African culture and history are celebrated during the annual Diablos y Congos festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival chaos in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Some of our favorite devil costumes from the festival in Portobelo, Panama.

Devils and fireworks.
Here’s more about travel in Panama
Here’s more about Festivals & Celebrations in the Americas
The slave runners and owners were devils indeed … very colorful festival!
Nice post, The festival looks successful. Good job Portobelo, Panama citizen.
This festival looks superb
This festival is lit
That’s good, right? Just kidding. Thanks for reading!
Hi I’m extremely interested in this festival. I’ve been trying to figure where is the best place to catch this? I’ll be going to Portobelo but accommodation in the area seems limited. Can I get some advice and pick your brain please? Costumes look amazing and cultural history interesting! Thanks for this post!
Hi Leti – Yes, this is a fascinating festival and, yes, accommodation in the area is limited.You can find out much more about area accommodation in this piece, including information about where we stayed during this festival https://trans-americas.com/pirates-caribbean-coast-puerto-lindo-portobelo-panama/.