Located in East Africa, south of Lake Victoria or
Nam Lolwe, Nalubaale or Nyanza, to use some of the pre-colonial names of
the waters, the Wakambi people, speak of ‘Queen Marimba’ who is
credited as being the ‘Mother of all Song' and creator of countless
instruments.
In
2018, whilst touring in Bogota, Colombia with El Gran Latido, Kibir La
Amlak recorded Iber Jose Gomez, a renowned Marimba player from the
Colombian Pacific Coast. Together they created this genre bending piece
of music 'Mother of Song (Queen Marimba)'. A blend of Afro-Colombian
melody with a UK style digi-dub drum and bassline.
The
journey of this instrument from the shores of Africa to the Americas is
a journey that is testament to - the determination to hold onto the
memories of your roots against all odds. Recorded in Bogota, Colombia,
the Marimba was carried across the Atlantic Ocean in the memories of the
Africans that were stolen, stripped of language, traditions and
cultures and sold as slaves. Yet despite these atrocities - the
strength, beauty and power of Africa could never depart. The Marimba was
recreated from memory and served as an unbreakable thread between the
diaspora and the continent.
In
2019, the 'Humanitarian Refuge for Life' was staged in Bogota. Feeling
as though their freedom and life itself was hanging by a thread, over
3,000 social leaders from all regions of Colombia gathered to take a
stand against systemic violence against; African descendants, indigenous
people and women - throughout Columbia. El Gran Latido Sound System
provided the amplification and musical backdrop for this occasion and
'Mother of Song' was given its first musical airing. The response was
powerful and the combination of the traditional Marimba melody with the
militancy of the roots reggae drum and bass elevated the spirit of
protest.
To honour
this story and amplify the cause, an additional version, entitled “El
Pueblo No Se Rinde Carajo” has been made featuring a speech from Diego
Fernando Porto Carrero, highlighting the ongoing plight of black and
indigenous people in Columbia from slavery times up until this present
day.
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