Alexander Medina: Barranquilla’s Carnival, The Reformed Congo, and Keeping Tradition Alive.
Alexander Medina in his ‘Congo’ outfit. Credit: Alexander Medina
By Cesar Medina
“One feels the drum, the sound of the dance and it makes me feel happy”, recounts Alexander Medina as he describes what ‘El Carnaval de Barranquilla’ means to him over the phone.
All the way from Barranquilla, a city in the costal northern region of Colombia, the 31-year-old has been a part of a dance group called ‘El Congo Reformado’ (The Reformed Congo) for the last 27 years. The Reformed Congo is a traditional dance founded by Alex’s uncle Manuel Sanchez and grandfather Atilano Sanchez in 1975.
“The Reformed Congo is a variation from the traditional Congo dance which involved the original settlers from Cartagena wearing large head pieces and creating banging noises to scare of invaders. What makes our dance different is our extravagant head pieces and bright coloured outfits”, says Alex.
During ‘La Tarde de Danza’ (Evening of Dancing) on February 5, Alexander Medina transformed into an animal sporting a large headpiece of a black panther with glaring yellow eyes alongside the rest of the group who had also morphed into beasts for that afternoon at the ‘Plaza de Paz’ (Peace Square) in front of thousands of carnival goers. However, up close it’s not as intimidating as the original dance was intended during colonial times, but mesmerising nonetheless.
“it’s about keeping the tradition alive; this dance is from my family and my ancestors. I’m the fourth generation and my daughters are next. The idea is that this never dies”, said Alex after the performance that afternoon as he drowned himself in water with sweat dripping down his forehead.
Every year, the lead up to carnival and the actual days themselves are some of the most fulfilling moments for Alexander, as he admits that he gets more attention from the locals in his costume and even appears on national TV.
He says: “it’s gratifying because during carnival there are a lot of costumes, very pretty things, lots of dancing, and for national television to focus on you and see you as something cool to show.”
He adds: “It’s also satisfying because you know that it takes time to complete preparations. There are artist, people that sew the costumes and work hard so that it comes out beautiful. It is not just the dancers, but many people who put their bit of sand so that they see you as a main figure in that very rewarding and exciting moment.”
And despite only being “famous for those four days”, Alex is proud that his group has been able to make a name for themselves not just within Barranquilla but the rest of Colombia.
“When you get out there (to carnival), people go crazy, taking pictures and people don't want to let go of you”, he says laughing.
“I’ve gone to various parts of Colombia with the Congo, the coast, Bogota, Bucaramanga and when I go to those places the people get drawn to our outfits.”
As cool as it is to be a celebrity during carnival season, Alexander cares more about his community and what his family think of him.
Alex says: “The neighbours when you always go out, they are waiting to take a photo with you every year and almost always every year, we change the design of the costume and they wait to see how it turns out.
And the family, they have always accompanied me. I have always liked that. They always go to see the carnivals at the ‘Batalla de Flores’ (Battle of Flowers). They wait for me, when I’m dancing, they take photos of me and they enjoy it because, they know that my father and grandfather participated in this and they see that things continue. They see that the tradition is still there.”
One member of Alexander’s family who is also involved with the group is his 20-year-old cousin, Alexis Medina. Alexis has been performing with The Reformed Congo for over nine years now and like Alexander wants to keep the family tradition alive through the dance.
Alexis says: “For me The Reformed Congo means a tradition at the family level since one of my uncles, the father of my cousin, with whom I am currently performing with, was one of the founders. Since his death I have been representing the family tradition to honour of him.”
The tradition has in fact continued, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex and The Reformed Congo participated in the ‘Carnaval de Barranquilla’ in 2021, albeit virtually. This was the first time Barranquilla’s Carnival was held behind closed doors.
“We had some presentations. They hosted them (carnival) in schools across the city. They called us at different times because gatherings of large crowds weren’t allowed so we did a brief demonstration of the dance, they (Barranquilla’s council) recorded it and you left. As you were leaving another group entered. It took around half an hour in total”, explains Alex.
Adding: “usually you’ll get to route 40 (where they host the Barranquilla Carnival) and you arrive there at nine in the morning and you don’t arrive at your house by seven in the evening. It’s different, you are there all day.”
During the first major pre-carnival event this year, ‘La Guacherna’, I noticed that the carnival goers were animated, vibrant, joyful and it made me wonder if people acted like this because of the carnival or if it was as a result of the pandemic.
‘La Guacherna’ is the only night time party and first pre-carnival event. Credit: Cesar Medina
Alex tells me: “The first carnival that was held after the pandemic was in 2022. Yes, people were still a little apathetic then but during this year’s carnival I saw that things got back to normal”.
He adds: “People have always been like that here. People at the carnivals get so excited that they do certain things, and they get super happy. The people here take a drink with a stranger, they will take anything a stranger gives you. There is nothing that seems untrue, but yes, the people are full of joy here on the Barranquilla coast.”
Looking further away from Barranquilla and Colombia, I asked Alex if he and the group ever considered travelling abroad to share his heritage and culture with the rest of the world – maybe London and Notting Hill Carnival?
“Never heard of it and we’ve never been to the UK”, he says giggling.
“And no, I didn't have the experience to travel with the group. I was younger then, so I wasn’t autonomous, but the Congo has gone to Africa, to the United States, Portugal, Spain, across South America, Central America - to almost the whole world”, says Alex.
He adds: “The Reformed Congo thanks to its costume, to the boldness of my uncle, Julio Sánchez, who is the director, has been growing the group and I with them.”
Alexander has not had the opportunity to travel internationally despite wanting to, but he has travelled with the group nationally where he has had the chance to exchange cultures with different carnival acts.
Alex says: “it is beautiful. Apart from that you show off your culture and you learn about different ones, the experience of discovering other territories and other types of costumes too. Every country has its own culture, has its own beliefs and that's cool.”
Like his older cousin, Alexis wants the dance and the family heritage to keep spreading across Colombia.
“One of the greatest aspirations is to be able to continue representing The Reformed Congo and to be able to make significant innovations year after year as we have been. We are known for our colourful and different headpieces and thus continue to contribute a grain of sand to the Carnival of Barranquilla”, he says.
Alexander says: “My expectations with the dance, the carnival and The Reformed Congo is that my uncle and I continue to expand it to more people.”
Adding: “I also want the traditions that made this beautiful experience possible to grow because they’re amazing and for me this is what life is about, these moments.”
