“In Colombia,” says Tostao, “people know about the cumbia, people know about the vallenato, people know what goes on in the interior, on the north coast, but they don’t know what happens in other regions.” He points to “Batalla de las Regiones”—a popular reality show that purports to showcase diversity by pitting teams from different departments against one another, but conveniently skips over the Pacific coast and Amazon jungle, resulting in a cast of characters as bland as a salt-free arepa.
This is discrimination, really,” Tostao says. The mass media has decided that “our way of talking, our style of life is not something commercial, is not something that should be revealed. It is better left hidden.”
Since Choc Quib Town pulled the curtain from Colombia’s Pacific coast, not only have they exposed a world of artistry, but they have proved Afro-Colombian music a commercial and critical success. Their two LPs in Colombia—2007’s Somos Pacifico and last year’s Oro—have picked up an armload of awards, and sent the group on tours across Europe and South America. Last year, Choc Quib Town was nominated for the Best New Artist category at the Latin Grammys.
“We are in unity with what is called Colombia, and we want to be recognized within this unity,” he says. ”With our music what we are doing is saying okay, if you are going to hide this [Pacific, Afro-Colombian culture], we, as we are from there, we are not going to hide it, we are going to show it off.”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Choc Quib Town “De Donde Vengo Yo”
Tour dates:
Fri 3/5 – Miami, FL – Kukaramakara
Sat 3/6 – Coral Gables, FL – Carnaval On The Mile
Wed 3/17 – Austin, TX – Official SXSW Showcase @ Antone’s
Thurs 3/18 – Austin, TX – “All Music Is World Music” Official SXSW Showcase @ Momo’s
Words by Madeleine Bair.
yes awesome!!!!
Awesome group.