Pasto, Colombia: Locals and tourists come together to celebrate the final day of the traditional Blacks and Whites carnival parade in Pasto, southern Colombia. Amid flour and foam, grand floats glide by, each telling its own story. This year, the standout is the “peace carriage,” a float crafted by victims of Colombia’s armed conflict and peace agreement signatories, symbolizing hope for the country’s future. “A meaningful effort took place, offering the world an example that peace can indeed be built,” says conflict victim Diana Huila.
The Blacks and Whites carnival has its origins in a mix of Andean, Amazonian and Pacific cultural expressions, and it celebrates the ethnic diversity in the region and was proclaimed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2009.
