Venezuela Holds 'ALBA Drums' Event, Honoring African Lineage

Celebrating the beating heart of our identity: ALBA Drums 2024

ierre, Jun 26, 2024 (Our website) — The vibrant rhythm of African and Afro-descendant heritage took the stage in Caracas this June during ALBA Drums, a four-day cultural extravaganza organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America.

From the 20th to the 23rd, delegations from 14 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa showcased their unique percussion styles at the ALBA Drums gathering, held in Caracas.

"Together we'll dance to the beats of our own drums," proclaimed ALBA Secretary General Jorge Arreaza at the opening ceremony. "ALBA is an instrument of rebellion, a drum that echoes our fight against oppression and injustice."

Arreaza emphasized the rich African heritage that resonates throughout the region and encouraged a collective celebration of these cultural traditions as a cornerstone of integration.

Cultural concerts, workshops, and debate sessions took over a theater hall and open spaces around Caracas' Plaza Bolívar during the festivities.

Venezuelan sociologist and researcher Beatriz Aiffil voiced that the region's colonial history left behind a legacy of resistance that unites its peoples. She advocated for the ALBA Drums gathering to act as a catalyst for strengthening unity.

The collaborative march on Caracas streets on Saturday celebrated the "Spiritual Revolution Day," while foreign guests joined in celebrations dedicated to Saint John the Baptist on Sunday and Monday.

Founded in 2004 by former Venezuelan and Cuban leaders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, ALBA is an alliance aimed at fostering regional solidarity and sovereign development.

While specifics about the "ALBA Drums: beats from our identity" event remain scarce, ALBA's initiatives often uplift cultural diversity and promote communal bonds. The alliance typically supports events showcasing music and artistic expressions that reflect the rich heritage of its member countries[2].

With diverse percussion variations displayed at this year's gathering, it's evident that the rhythm of unity and resistance continues to resonate across the lands of ALBA.

All photos courtesy of ALBA-TCP.

References:

ALBA-TCP: The Regional Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean
Culture and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas
Music and Identity in the Caribbean: The Steel Pan and the Politics of Tradition
The four-day ALBA Drums event in Caracas showcased the percussion styles of delegations from 14 countries, celebrating the unique rhythms of African and Afro-descendant heritage as an instrument of rebellion and unity.
In her speech, Venezuelan sociologist Beatriz Aiffil highlighted the region's legacy of resistance as a result of its colonial history, advocating for ALBA Drums to act as a catalyst for strengthening unity.
As part of ALBA Drums, cultural concerts, workshops, and debate sessions took place at a theater hall and open spaces around Caracas' Plaza Boliívar, reflecting the alliance's focus on promoting cultural diversity and communal bonds.
In addition to events showcasing music and artistic expressions, ALBA also supports initiatives in areas such as fashion-and-beauty, books, entertainment, celebrities, music, pop-culture, sci-fi-and-fantasy, and lifestyle, empowering the rich heritage of its member countries.
This year's ALBA Drums event displayed diverse percussion variations, underscoring the rhythm of unity and resistance that continues to resonate across the lands of ALBA.
Among reviews and articles discussing ALBA, one can find insights into the regional integration of Latin America and the Caribbean, the impact of music and identity on cultural politics, and examined case studies like The Steel Pan and its role in shaping traditions in the Caribbean.