Excursion Sunset african heritage & drumming experience tour at Cartagena

Cartagena’s African Heritage - a community and its musical tradition

La Boquilla is a small fishing community located on the edge of the city between the sea and the mangroves and this early evening cultural event takes place on the village beach where younger members of the community provide a warm welcome as the sun sets on the horizon. This humble village and its residents have until now miraculously survived the ever encroaching development of modern hotels and apartment blocks, however this has galvanized the community into acting to protect their lifestyle and the future of the younger generation through dance, music and in particular drumming.

The majority of the residents of la Boquilla are of African descent and are very proud of their ancestral cultural traditions and this unique experience offers an opportunity to live the soul of the community through African-Colombian folk music with rhythms of Cumbia, Bullerengue, Mapalé, and Champeta. The “tamboras”, or drums, await on the beach and children, teenagers and young adults will invite you to learn some basic drumming rhythms before joining them in an interactive presentation of drumming and dance. As the sun sets and the moon rises with the breeze blowing in from the sea there is a spiritual sensation to the scene as a community leader explains the cultural importance of the tamboras and dance in a celebration of life where thanks is offered to the drums for uniting us with the ancient traditions of Africa and for filling us with energy and joy.

A welcome cocktail with additional beers or soft drinks will be served with some traditional snacks such as fish empanadas, and the community leader and our guide will explain how the younger generation of the community are able to learn the musical traditions though the establishment of educational foundations, to which you will have donated through your participation in this experience.

Away from the glitz and glamour of the city this very special cultural interaction with a humble, poor but fiercely proud community will live on in your memory long after you have departed from the shores of Colombia

Major points of interest seen on this excursion may include:

La Boquilla fishing village, African folk music, Interactive drumming session

Note