San Jacinto is a small municipality located 120 km from Cartagena, Colombia, in the Montes de María. Its population of 28,000 inhabitants is mainly peasants and artisans, descendants of indigenous people and African slaves, who live in conditions of extreme poverty and who have been violence victims of the Colombian armed conflict. (Refer to Violence in the Montes de María)
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- 85% of the population of San Jacinto, Bolívar, can’t meet their basic needs.
About half the population of San Jacinto lives in conditions of misery.
- There is no water utility nor sewage in San Jacinto. This is why people store rainwater in tanks during the rainy season, and during drought season (December to April) they purchase potable water from tankers and bring it home in buckets.
- There were more than 200 assassinations, 7 massacres and more than 7000 displaced individuals due to the Montes de María violence during the Colombian armed conflict.
However, San Jacinto is also a very special corner of the Caribbean, with an immense cultural richness, represented in its archaeological and musical heritage, and its artisan tradition:
SAN JACINTO’S CULTURAL RICHNESS
A very valuable musical heritage, recognized internationally and represented in songs and dances to the notes of accordions and kuisi (gaita). Demonstrated by the two Latin Grammys awarded to “Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto” for their album “a pureblood fire (un fuego de pura sangre)” and to the accordionist Rodrigo Rodriguez accompanying singer Juan Piña in the album “He sings to San Jacinto (Le canta a San Jacinto)”.
- “Tejeduría de San Jacinto”: An artisan tradition dating more than 5 centuries, certified with a Geographical Indication.
Latinlán supports the artisans from San Jacinto that were violence victims.
Latinlán is an opportunity for artisans in San Jacinto to sell their products in international markets, generating sufficient income to live with dignity, recover from the prolonged violence and support their households.
Latinlán wants to help the San Jacinto community with their profound social and economic needs, within a framework of justice, respect, transparency, responsibility and joyfulness, promoting its immense cultural richness worldwide.
Archaeological Heritage: Archaeological excavations carried out in the municipality unearthed petroglyphs and ceramic pieces 6000 years old. These pieces are being exhibited in the Community Museum of San Jacinto.
*Fotos cortesia Museo Comunitario de San Jacinto
