Imagine if you will a region that hosts fantastic surf, humpback whales breaching, visible from a shoreline of empty virgin beaches, verdant jungles that tumble dramatically into the Pacific Ocean, hot springs, innumerable mineral deposits, award winning eco-lodges and warm embracing people ready to laugh and jig to rhythmic beats of the currulao. This is no stretch of the imagination, you are thinking of the Chocó, Colombia’s poorest most exotic and yet perhaps most corrupt department and the region from which the hip hop trio ChocQuibTown hail.
Who are ChocQuibTown?
Goyo, Slow and Tostao the threesome from Quibdo, the impoverished capital of the Chocó, have been putting Afro-Colombian music on the map in their homeland for some time dating back to 2006 and their first release entitled “Somos Pacifico”. This groundbreaking and anthemic track that infuses hip hop, rap, some marimba, impressive vocals and mixing from the triumvirate reaches out to the afro Colombian communities in the Chocó striving to give them a sense of belonging in the face of so much conflict.
What are ChocQuibTown's Musical Influences?
The artists describe their music as having come from “childhood experiences, the pacific music from their upbringing, salsa, and afro American music from Panama all of which are characterised by the lack of barriers and dexterity of imagination.” They fuse this with various musical styles, their personal influences and then with poignant messages.
Tellingly during interviews the band is quick to point out that the closing lyrics in “Somos Pacifico” are: “Colombia is more than coca, marijuana and coffee” to show the country that there are far more riches here to be proud of and far more to offer than the stereotype so often associated with pacific Afro-Colombians.
Choco, Colombia's Overlooked Region
Somewhat forgotten, plagued by the problems inherent in Colombian society, good news is hard to come by in Pacific region of the Chocó and just a glance at the national newspaper El Tiempo gives you a slice of what is going on, extreme poverty in the region is close to the staggering figure of 80 per cent and levels of illiteracy are three times higher than that of the national average.
ChocQuibTown's New Album "Oro"
This is where ChocQuibTown comes in and provides Colombian music with a breath of fresh air. The song “De Donde Vengo Yo” from their newest and Latin Grammy nominated album “Oro” is a proud message of positive energy spreading a socially-conscious message as the group looks to spread awareness about a culture which is often ignored.
It is a tough call to decide on where to start when listing the problems here, illegal mining, exploitation of the natural resources, coca production and transportation, armed conflict, displaced peoples, extreme violence and rampant corruption. The Red Cross find permanent employment here.
Perhaps fittingly one should download 2008’s “Pescao Envenenao”, and remind oneself that 2010 is an election year in Colombia and that behind the catchy lyrics is an urgent message of distaste towards the corrupt officials of the Chocó and their brand of fishy politics. As the band said: “The fish in question are the slippery lies doled out in order to win votes and be elected.“
ChocQuibTown Highlight Chocoano Culture
While Goyo, Tostao and Slow place a strong importance on the “drawing their culture out of the dark and into the light” and routinely play to packed venues in the Chocó, 2009 was a banner year for the group beginning with their breakthrough showcases at the prestigious South By Southwest Festival in Austin and then with appearances ranging from London to Warsaw and even to India. Fans in Europe in 2010 had the opportunity to see them at the Glastonbury festival in southern England.
Can ChocQuibTown Make a Difference?
Can ChocQuibTown make a change in Colombia? Maybe so, if their sales and the fully justified and flattering reviews they have been receiving by the international media is anything to go by. Maybe in some time the Chocó will not be a by-word for obscene corruption, kidnapping and cocaine production yet a reference to the socially minded musicians of ChocQuibTown.
Richard McColl - I am a freelance writer from deepest darkest London but for the past 10 years or so I have been maintaining my extended "writing break" in ...
