D11 Portobelo, Colón Province PANAMA 1502

Ayer soñé con un hombre

De dientes de oro

Y me quiso lleva

Ay, ¿sabes quien es?

El Diablo Tun-Tun

— Traditional song “The Devil Knocks” in When the Devil Knocks, 2015

What I try to tell the young people now is to try and save the Congo dialect, which is very difficult. I am, and I still keep a few Congo words, but if they cannot rescue it — because the majority of it has been lost — they can try to speak backwards. At least say, Good morning, if it is night. If it is night time, then say Good morning or say it is raining, if it is sunny. If the moon is out, say the sun is out, that is, look for a way. . . . try to keep it up so that something is maintained. But do not kill the Congo tradition because it is a rich one.

— Carlos Chavarría, Oral History for DigitalPortobelo.com, 2013

Translation from Spanish to English:

Last night I dreamed of a man

With teeth of gold

Who wanted to carry me away

Oh, Do you know who it was?

The Devil knocks

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