Colombia’s Cultural Splendor at New Orleans Jazz Festival

The renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates Colombia’s cultural richness from April 25 to May 5. Featuring 150 musicians from 17 diverse groups and nearly 200 national artists, Colombian folklore commands the spotlight, capturing the essence of the nation’s cultural heritage.

Branded by the Festival as “The cultural powerhouse of Latin America,” Colombia brings an eclectic musical fusion of salsa, cumbia, champeta, vallenato, chirimia, currulao, and more genres to grace the festival’s 14 dynamic stages. Daily parades, immersive cultural experiences, and traditional crafts from indigenous and Afro-Colombian artisans hailing from 10 different departments, including Antioquia, Atlantico, Bolivar, Cesar, Cordoba and Nariño promise to captivate festival-goers. Additionally, the best of the country’s traditional cuisine is included in the event.

Colombian rhythms take over New Orleans

Among the star-studded Colombian lineup are renowned acts like Niche Group, Bomba Estereo, Lucio Feuillet, Batambora, Enkele, Creole Group, Matachinde, Rancho Aparte, and more. These Colombian performers will take the festival stage alongside legendary rock bands such as Foo Fighters and The Killers.

Embracing the essence of cumbia, Los Cumbia Stars from Medellin share their excitement to El Espectador newspaper: “We’re thrilled to infuse the streets of New Orleans with the infectious rhythms of our cumbia at this year’s Jazz Festival. It’s a dream in the making, to make history in cumbia and Colombian tropical music, so that all the countries of our continent can feel the rhythm of cumbia uniting Latin America through our beats,” says Cristina Escamilla, lead vocalist of the group.

Colombian entities foster cultural exchange

Behind the scenes, the selection of artists owes gratitude to platforms like Circulart and the Bogota Music Market (Bomm). Thanks to their efforts, programmers Christine Baer White and Valerie Guillet recognized Colombia’s musical prowess, proposing it as the guest country for the festival’s 2024 edition. The Colombian lineup now promises a sensory explosion of salsa, champeta, chirimia, gaita, and tons of flavor from artists like Jacobo Velez and La Mambanegra.

The Colombian Government’s support to the Cultural Exchange Program of the Festival underscores a commitment to fostering dialogue and artistic integration between Colombia and the United States. Facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledges, and the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, Colombia’s vibrant presence at the festival is a testament to the nation’s rich cultural tapestry.