For this installment of our "shout out" series, Afropop contributer and author Ned Sublette talks with leading DJ's in Colombia: Rafael Bassi of Radio Uninorte Estereo in Barranquilla and Camilo De Mendoz of Radio Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. Ned also talked with his peeps in Havana to get the scoop on what's happening on the Embargoed Island. Below are some of the artists our sources cite as representations of the current musical pulse in Colombia.


La 33 (Colombia)

The spearhead of the new salsa movement in Bogotá, named for that city’s Calle 33, their home base.  Directed by bassist Sergio Mejía, they first became known with an atypical number, “La Pantera Mambo,” a mambo based on Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther.”



Visit La 33’s official homepage!

Check out La 33’s myspace page!

Watch a youtube video of La 33 for a little introduction to their music and their concept.

Catch another glimpse of La 33 performing on youtube!

To purchase the group’s latest album, Gozalo visit Amazon.com!





Banda la República (Colombia)

A 13-piece band organized as a cooperative in their hometown of Medellín, directed by Juan Diego “Juancho” Valencia.  An exploratory group with a pan-American sound, their Colombian take on Cuban timba is particularly delicious.

Visit Banda la República's official homepage!

Check out Banda la República's myspace page!

Watch a music video of Banda la República on youtube!





Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto (Colombia)

A famous group of the 1950s that brought the style of Colombia’s Caribbean coast to international attention, they reconstituted themselves with second- and third-generation members and won a Latin Grammy for their album Un Fuego de Sangre Pura



To Purchase latest album, Un Fuego de Sangre Pura: Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto from Colombia visit Folkways.com or Tamborygaita.com





Colombiafrica the Mystic Orchestra (Colombia)

Creators of Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land, an amazing album of collaborations between Colombian singers and African musicians, in the spirit of the DJ-driven music called champeta that surged in the 70s in Cartagena (at first known as terapia, or therapy).

Check out the official myspace page of Colombiafrica the Mystic Orchestra!

Purchase the group’s latest album, Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land at Amazon.com or at Calabashmusic.com for mp3 version.

Watch a music video of Colombiafrica the Mystic Orchestra on youtube!





Choc Quib Town (Colombia)

Founded in Cali in 2000, and now based in Bogotá, the trio comes from Colombia’s west coast.  Their name comes from Chocó, the state they’re from; Quibdó, its capital; and the English word “town.”  Their website bio says that “their innovative sound fuses funk, North American hiphop, Jamaican reggae and electronic elements to produce elaborate beats; they do likewise with the traditional rhythms of the Pacific coast of Colombia, like bunde, currulao, bambazú and aguabajo; and with others from Latin America and the Caribbean like salsa, songo and guajira.


Visit Choc Quib Town’s official homepage!

Check out Choc Quib Town’s myspace page!

Watch a music video of Choc Quib Town on youtube!




Mojarra Eléctrica (Colombia)

Founded in 2001 and based in Bogotá, the members of this 12-piece band come from various regions of Colombia. Directed by Jacobo Vélez, they mix Afro-Colombian sounds with electric and electronic instruments.

Check out Mojarra Eléctrica’s myspace page!

Watch a music video of Mojarra Eléctrica on youtube!

To purchase the group’s latest CD, Raza visit Monofonica.com!







Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco (Cuba)

One of Cuba's best-known dance bands.  Founded in 1993, during the first big wave of timba, and featuring several former members of La Maravilla de Florida,  it's a big band that includes both elements of the Cuban conjunto (horns) and charanga (strings and flute).

Check out Manolito Simonet y su Trbuco’s myspace page!

Watch a music video of Manolito Simonet y su Trbuco on youtube!

To purchase the group’s latest CD, Control visit Descarga.com!

Afropop has also come across two premiere acts from Cuba's vibrant music scene. Check out these two acts whose styles range from Jazz and Pop to Reggaetón.




Yusa (Cuba)

Habanera from the neighborhood known as Playa (formerly Buenavista), singer-songwriter Yusa studied guitar, tres, and bass.  She honed her skills playing in Havana’s clubs and bars before signing with London-based Tumi Records, for whom she has cut three albums.  Her new album, Haiku, was mostly recorded in Havana and mixed in Brasil by Brasilian producer Alê Siquiera.

Visit Yusa’s official homepage!

Check out Yusa’s myspace page!

Watch a music video of Yusa on youtube!

To purchase Yusa’s latest CD,Breath visit Amazon.com!






Gente de Zona (Cuba)

Reggaetón trio founded as a rap group in 2000 by Alexander Delgado, who comes from Alamar, sometimes called the Bronx of Havana, where the Cuban hiphop movement originated in the 90s.  Very big in Cuba.
Check out Gente de Zona's official myspace page!

Watch a music video of Gente de Zona on youtube!


Purchase Gente de Zona's latest cd at Amazon.com!

AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO OUR DJs IN COLOMBIA: RAFAEL BASSI OF RADIO UNINORTE ESTEREO IN BARRANQUILLA, AND CAMILO DE MENDOZA OF RADIO UNIVERSIDAD JAVERIANA IN BOGOTÁ.  CAMILO IS ALSO THE COMPILER OF TWO CDs THAT WE DREW FROM IN MAKING THIS PROGRAM, NEOTROPICAL AND SALSA D.C.  UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER CD IS PRESENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.