Legend of the Hand of the Black Man on the Hill of the Cross

One of the most popular and well-known legends of Cali is the legend of the Hand of the Black Man on the Hill of the Cross. Most versions of this story speak of the injustice experienced by the Afro-descendant community during colonization. It has become a fundamental part of the mythology of Cali and the Valle del Cauca department. Because this particular legend has several important variations, we have divided the story into its different versions, which you will find below.

Legend of Juana and Crescencio (The Doomed Love of Two Slaves)

The most popular version of the legend of the Hand of the Black Man tells the tragic love story between two enslaved Black people, Juana and Crescencio. Both belonged to don Alberto Bujalance, who ran a panela (unrefined whole cane sugar) business and therefore kept a crew of slaves.

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Juana and Crescencio maintained a relationship known only to their mistress, doña Carmen de la Ronda, Don Alberto’s wife. She had not revealed the two slaves’ affair to anyone. One day, however, Juana told her that she and Crescencio had sworn their love and held a sort of marriage ceremony at the site known today as the Hill of Three Crosses. She also mentioned that, at that moment, they had heard a deep voice from the Farallones mountains guiding them.

The lady was terrified. She remembered the local legend that Buziraco (a demon worshipped by the slaves) had been exorcised in that exact spot. He had settled in the city after being expelled from the Cerro de la Popa in Cartagena, as also recounted in the legend of The Goat’s Leap. The mistress betrayed them. Because of this, Juana and Crescencio fled, knowing the punishment awaiting them was surely a whipping or death.

Unfortunately, both were recaptured in the town of Vijes. Upon their return, don Alberto beat Juana mercilessly. Crescencio responded with great fury, breaking free from his bonds and delivering a massive blow that broke his master’s jaw.

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Following this act, Crescencio’s penis and hand were cut off. Shortly after, he turned up dead and was buried where the famous Hill of the Cross stands today. Juana, who was pregnant, was abandoned to her fate in the wilderness, where wild animals killed her.

But the story did not end there. People began to fear the place where Crescencio was buried. It was said that his ghost started haunting the area, with blood pouring from the stump of his missing hand. Moans could be heard, and a hand began to protrude from the earth.

The parish priest, Alonso Hidalgo de Albuja, then decided to exorcise the site. He placed a cross there to prevent these supernatural events from continuing.

Legend of the Mother’s Curse (The Disobedient Son)

Another version regarding the origin of this legend states that a freed slave lived on the outskirts of the town with her son. This boy was extremely disobedient and rude. One day, furious because he refused to stay home, the mother sought a way to control him and threatened to curse him. The young man merely mocked his mother.

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In her rage, his mother told him, “May the earth swallow you.” At that moment, the ground opened up and swallowed the young man, leaving only his hand exposed. This terrifying event frightened the townspeople, who claimed it must be the work of the devil. They brought the local priest, who blessed the ground with holy water. This caused the earth to finish swallowing the boy completely. A cross was raised on the site to bless the area and ward off evil.

Legend of the Slave Murdered for Love (The Forbidden Romance)

There are two other very popular versions, documented in a book by writer Luis Felipe Byron Delgado, who recounts stories about slaves in Cali. These versions tell two distinct love stories. In the first story, it is said that the land belonged to a Spanish landowner who had a teenage daughter. One of his enslaved women had a son of the same age as the Spaniard’s daughter.

The two teenagers fell in love, but they had the misfortune of being caught by the girl’s father while being intimate. Enraged, the Spaniard murdered the young man and buried him in that very spot. From then on, the hand of the Black man began to emerge from the ground every night, until a cross was placed and the site was blessed.

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In the other version, the young man fell in love with his master’s favorite slave. Just as in the previous story, the young man was murdered and buried on the site, unleashing the familiar supernatural events.

What makes this version unique is that the Spanish landowner, along with other local landowners, began turning up dead—most of them hanged. This incited the townspeople to hold prayers, masses, and processions. They blessed the site and placed crosses to frighten away the evil occurrences.

Legend of the Curse for Matricide (The Mother Murderer)

Another version explaining the origin of the legend of the Hand of the Black Man of the cross points to a terrible crime. It is said that a young man named Juan Diego committed the horrifying act of murdering his mother. The community, outraged by his actions, killed the young man and buried him on the site. However, the hand of the Black man began to emerge every night until the cross was placed.

A variation of this specific tale claims the young man was actually innocent and unjustly blamed. Therefore, he raises his hand from the grave because he is seeking justice.

Legend of the False Conviction (The Stolen Coins)

Finally, we will discuss another of the most recurring versions. In this telling, the hand of the Black man belongs to an enslaved man who was unjustly accused of stealing gold coins.

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The slave was mercilessly condemned to whippings, the garrote, and capital punishment. After the cruel punishment, believing he was dead, they buried him. However, he was still alive. His remaining strength only allowed him to push his hand out of the dirt and make the sign of the cross. The townspeople interpreted this as a sign that a great injustice had taken place there.

Is the Hand of the Black Man on the Hill of the Cross a Myth or a Legend?

The Hand of the Black Man is a legend, not a myth. It recounts events that took place within a real space or location and speaks of incidents presumed to be real, even if not every element of the story is 100% historically verifiable.

About the Loma de la Cruz Artisanal Park

The park was officially inaugurated on July 12, 1990. It was built following an agreement signed by Artesanías de Colombia (a government agency promoting crafts) and the Mayor’s Office of Cali. Years later, Artesanías de Colombia handed the park over to the municipality after closing its branch in the Valle region.

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Today, the site is a cultural meeting space that constantly hosts exhibitions, events, and cultural showcases. There are also craft stalls featuring goods from several countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, and Bolivia.

The current brick and cement cross was placed by Franciscan priests in 1909, replacing the previous wooden cross.