“Bogota is the world capital of music.”
That’s a big claim yeah? An even bigger one than being “the greatest reggae show on earth”.
This is what a non-native Colombian – living in Colombia (not in Bogota) – and playing music in a Colombian fusion band – recently told me in Bogota.
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- Bogota
Is Bogota really “The World Capital”?
I’m not sure I agree with him that Bogota is the world capital. I’m not sure New Yorkers would agree. Or Berliners. After recent experiences in Jamaica I think some Jamaicans might say that Jamaica is the world capital of music. Colombian musicians living in other Colombian cities might also disagree that Bogota is the world capital of music.
I put the proposition to a Colombian, un Bogotona, José Enrique Plata Manjarrés. I consider José to be a living, walking encyclopedia of Bogota’s recent musical history, as well as Latin America more generally. Just 2 of his many musical projects, spanning a decade, included: 1. collecting Bogota concert posters; 2. reviewing and/or collecting all music of all genres recorded in Bogota by Colombian and visiting international artists (some of them unreleased): http://www.fotolog.com/owai; http://www.last.fm/user/owai.
José responded “I don’t know that Bogota is the world capital of music. But it is certainly a reference point”.
Bogota is “a reference point”
A reference point it is.
The more I ask questions about Colombian fusion music, the more I find out just how many people outside of Colombia have been looking closely at what’s happening musically in Bogota (and the rest of Colombia) in recent years. I just found out about an awesome 2013 documentary called ‘Que Pasa Colombia’ (‘What happened Colombia’). It’s whole focus is on contemporary Colombian fusion bands and how all the fusion music came to be: exactly what I’ve been going on about lately, and thinking about for years.
Que Mas?
“World capital of music” or not – the point is that in Bogota there is an incredibly rich, interesting & diverse tapestry of amazing contemporary music being created – including lots of fusion music mixing traditional and modern sounds.
And it’s not just in Bogota. Maybe there’s more fusion bands based in Bogota because it’s the capital, but music artists are creating great fusion music all throughout Colombia.
Systema Solar – Caribbean Coast
Puerto Candelaria – Medellin
Zalama Crew – Cali
What Now for Beaver?
Six years after first discovering Colombian fusion music, I have only just started to scratch the surface of how much incredible music is actually in Colombia to be found (fusion and traditional kinds).
Sadly I have to say goodbye to Colombia for now. For the other side of the Pacific (el otro lado del Pacifico) – to put my feet in the sand there for a bit.
But I will be back to Colombia again, and again, to keep scratching away and finding great musical experiences.
Until then I have lots of things to keep me entertained and dreaming of musical Colombia:
- a heap of great Colombian fusion bands whose music I’ve been enjoying for a long time but haven’t had time to write about yet.
- a bag of new Colombian fusion music CD’s to digest – and share what I find.
- a list of other Colombian fusion bands recommended to me by Colombians – whose CD’s I haven’t been able to get hold of.
- a list of Colombian music festivals I will get back to Colombia for.
I love and already miss the friendly, warm, happy, passionate and incredibly diverse looking, speaking & acting Colombian peoples.
And Dios Miya I will miss the rich, unique & diverse Colombian fusion music (and traditional too) being created, and played live all throughout Colombia.
I love Colombian fusion music. Don’t you? Claro que siiiii you do…
