As the tenth anniversary of her passing approaches, the republication of the documentary Islam in Buenaventura revisits the broader history of the Afro-Colombian Muslim community and honors the legacy of one of its pioneering members, Alicia Camacho (1940–2017), an influential Afro-Colombian cultural leader, educator and folklorist.
“Four hundred and fifty years of exclusion. Four hundred and fifty years of marginalization. Oh, Buenaventura, you are the adventure of my heart…,” sings Camacho.
When Islam in Buenaventura premiered more than twelve years ago, it showed a chapter of Colombian history that remained largely unknown outside the communities that lived it.
While the documentary is not solely about Alicia Camacho, her life and legacy offer a meaningful opportunity to revisit the broader story, told through the voices of an Afro-Colombian community whose experiences have too often remained absent from mainstream historical narratives.
“In that song, I make this appeal: ‘I ask the Colombian government: if we have rights, then give us a university,’” said Camacho.
More than the history of a religious movement, the story documents the lived experiences of Afro-Colombian men and women as they navigated questions of identity, faith, cultural heritage, leadership, resilience, belonging and community transformation. Their testimonies illuminate the ways personal histories intersect with social, political and cultural currents in Colombia.
Production Credits: Islam in Buenaventura was funded by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at Florida International University. The documentary was executive produced, directed and written by Dr. Mercedes Vigón. Ernesto Cámbara served as production designer and editor, overseeing post-production, while Milaydy Artiles was the director of photography. Elizabeth Suárez served as production coordinator, with Wilma Hernández as production assistant. Narration was provided by Yoel Román, and the English translation and version were prepared by Javier Aparasi. Special thanks are extended to anthropologist Diego G. Castellanos, whose research on the Afro-Colombian Muslim community in Buenaventura laid an important foundation for this documentary. His scholarship, guidance and introduction to the community were instrumental in making this project possible.
