Oíaymelo
It’s been almost a year since this project began, and I am more than happy to say that the 42-minute documentary, entitled Oíaymelo, is finally finished. Before writing a little about it, I’d first like to say how... Read Article
Representation, Trust, and Meaning
Having been back from Colombia for a few months now, I am currently finishing up editing the footage for the documentary, a process that should be reaching an end relatively soon. In case you forgot, my project not... Read Article
The Story Inside the Rhythm: Cumbia
Today cumbia is easily one of the most internationally popular Latin American musical genres. It’s true, the genre did blow up all around the world in the 1960s, gaining huge levels of popularity across the globe. Many different... Read Article
Candelaviva
Almost every evening I’ve been going to Plaza de los Coches to spend time with the different folclor colombiano music and dance groups that play in the streets of el centro histórico throughout the night. There have usually... Read Article
The Story Inside the Rhythm: Mapalé
I am beginning with mapalé because it seems to be the most commonly performed rhythm and dance here in the streets of Cartagena. Furthermore, it is one of the Colombian rhythms from the Atlantic coast that is most... Read Article
Class and Tourism: Chatting with a Local Shoeshiner
During my second day in town, as I was walking leisurely through the brightly coloured streets dripping in sweat and searching for a cheap spot to grab a bite for lunch, I came across a small, dark, sort... Read Article
First Days in Cartagena: Following the Rhythms
The majority of Afro-Colombians reside on either the Pacific or Caribbean coast, so when I arrived in Cartagena two days ago, it didn’t come as a surprise when I noticed that the average skin colour here was far... Read Article
History Lessons in Bogotá
Spending a week in this country’s beautiful capital, Bogotá, was quite an experience. Housed by a “typical” (in their words) middle-class Colombian family in a neighborhood called América Occidental, I couldn’t help but take note of the sheer... Read Article
Beginnings
Just hours shy of arriving in Colombia and I can feel the excitement and buzz humming around my ears. In some strange way, I can already hear the rhythms popping from the interactions between hand and drum –... Read Article